Davao City LGU assures former rebels of assistance

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 6, 2020): Davao City LGU assures former rebels of assistance (By Joey Dalumpines)

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA) - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio assured the former rebels and former members of the underground organizations run by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army that they will get assistance from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and other needs through the City Government.

She told them that the real struggle and change are realized in the actual management of government and not through running in the hills.

Duterte-Carpio said that her nine years as mayor made her realize that many rebels were killed in the struggle without realizing the change they aspired.

“It is a great loss. Change is never realized when the died,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio urged the former rebels to help protect the children from the recruitment perpetrated by the rebel movement as she thanked them for heeding the call of the government to return to the folds of the law.

She formally received the 19 former rebels including high ranking personalities, 30 high powered firearms, four .45 caliber pistols and several improvised explosive devices recovered during the 12 encounters with the soldiers under the 1003rd Infantry Brigade this year, through Brigadier General Nolasco Mempin, commander of the 1003rd IB and 10th Infantry Division Commander, Major General Reuben Basiao.

Mempin revealed that the rebels still aim to recover their lost havens like the communities of Paquibato District which were cleared by the Armed Forces since 2018.

He observed that the area is very strategic since it is a crossroad leading to the provinces of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte.

“We continue our focused military operation in areas as we double our efforts to deliver the needed services to the constituents in far-flung areas,” Mempin said. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1060885