BANCASI, Butuan City – Another twenty-one (21) Former Rebels (FRs) in Caraga region had received the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) DILG Financial Assistance Package during the 2nd Quarter Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Meeting of Agusan del Norte held at Balanghai Hotel, Brgy Doongan, Butuan City.
Twenty-one (21) FRs, composed of four (4) FRs from 29th Infantry Battalion, fifteen (15) FRs from 23rd Infantry Battalion, and two (2) FRs from PRO13, received a total of two million three hundred forty thousand pesos (PhP2,340,000.00) DILG financial assistance package consisting of PhP1,100,000.00 Livelihood Assistance, PhP300, 000.00 Immediate Assistance and PhP940, 000.00 firearms remuneration under the E-CLIP DILG Financial Assistance Package.
The awarding of E-CLIP benefits witnessed by different member agencies of the PPOC ADN was attended by Hon Dale B Corvera, Provincial Governor of ADN, Hon Angelica Rosedell Amante Matba, 2nd District representative of ADN, Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander, and Director Lilibeth T Famacion, Regional Director of DILG Caraga.
Ten (10) out of the twenty-one (21) FRs brought along their firearms upon surrender to government troops. The surrendered firearms consist of one (1) Caliber .45 pistol, one (1) Caliber .38 pistol, one (1) home-made shotgun; one (1) M14 rifle, one (1) AK47 rifle, two (2) M16 rifles, one (1) Garand rifle, and four (4) Carbine rifles.
The Army and PNP units where the FRs have voluntary surrendered will receive a total amount of PhP462,000.00 as Reintegration Assistance Fund. Said units provided temporary shelter, food and other assistance for the said FRs and their families while processing and awaiting their E-CLIP benefits.
Since January 2020, a total of eighty-four (84) FRs under the 402nd Infantry Brigade AOR already received their E-CLIP under the DILG Financial Assistance package together with other benefits from TESDA, DOH and DSWD.
It can be recalled that last June 11, 2020, the E-CLIP Committee of Surigao del Norte spearheaded by Hon Francisco T Matugas, Provincial Governor, together with Director Lilibeth T Famacion, Regional Director of DILG Caraga also awarded a total of PhP3,072,000 under the DILG financial assistance package to thirteen (13) Former Rebels (FRs) who voluntary surrendered to 30th Infantry Battalion under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade. A total of twenty (20) High-Powered Firearms (HPFAs) consisting of six (6) AK47 rifles, four (4) M16 rifles, three (3) M4 rifles, two (2) M14 rifles, one (1) AR18 rifle, one (1) Home-made shotgun and three (3) M203 Grenade Launchers were given remuneration and ceremoniously turned over during the said activity.
Also, last February 11, 2020, a total of thirty-one (31) former rebels (FRs) who surrendered to the 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion received the E-CLIP benefits worth PhP660,800 held at Headquarters 29IB, Brgy Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, ADN. Likewise, eighteen (18) FRs who surrendered to 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion also received their E-CLIP benefits amounting to PhP1,210,000.00 held at Capitol Hill, Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur on 10 February 2020.
Hon Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, 2nd District Representative of ADN, who always supported and visited the FRs during their stay at their temporary shelters inside the 23IB and 29IB Headquarters in the Municipality of Buenavista and City of Cabadbaran, respectively, expressed her gratitude and support to the Former Rebels who will start their new lives with the help of the financial assistance received. She encourage them to entice their former comrades to also surrender to the government as the E-CLIP assistance awaits them. Hon Amante-Matba is expecting an influx of surrenderers in the coming weeks as the CNTs are already weakened because of hunger and fatigue as they suffered major setbacks due to continuous combat operations of government forces.
Meanwhile, Hon Dale B Corvera, Provincial Governor of ADN, during the discussion in the 2nd Qtr PPOC meeting, directed the DILG Provincial Director to implement the operationalization of the Halfway House for FRs that was already completed last January 30, 2020. The operationalization is one of the most significant part of the E-CLIP process that will ensure the redirection of the FR towards returning to the mainstream society.
In his statement, Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, Commander of 402nd Infantry Brigade said that the E-CLIP have strengthened the impact of the combat operations in the mountains and would encourage more CNT surrenderers in Caraga. He said, “The E-CLIP has induced snowball of CNT surrenderers. However, the E-CLIP benefits anchored under the Task Force ELCAC must be complemented with the implementation of different livelihood and infrastructure projects and the delivery of basic services to the geographically isolated disadvantaged and conflict affected areas (GIDCAs) in order to address the issues commonly exploited by the communist terrorist group.”
“Once again, we urge all remaining CNT members to surrender and peacefully lay down their firearms. Let the Caraganons experience a genuine peace so that development and progress will take its course in the region. Rest assured that those FRs who surrender will be secured to include their families and they will be given appropriate assistance under the E-CLIP under direction of the TF ELCAC”, BGen Licudine added.
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