27 ex-militia ng bayan members in NegOr get gov't aid

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 27, 2021): 27 ex-militia ng bayan members in NegOr get gov't aid (By Roi Lomotan) 

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 27 (PIA) -- Some 27 former “militia ng bayan” members in Negros Oriental will receive P15,000 financial aid and livelihood assistance from the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (ECLIP).

Members of the ECLIP Cluster of the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF ELCAC) convened on Jan. 25, 2021 to discuss preparations for the turnover of the cash aid to the said beneficiaries.

Philippine Army 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Leonardo Peña said the Militia ng Bayan are supporters of the alleged rebel-terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA) and serve as their “eyes and ears” in the barangay level.

Members of the ECLIP Cluster of the Negros Oriental Inter-Agency Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict discuss preparations for the turnover of ECLIP assistance to 27 former Militia ng Bayan during a meeting held Jan. 25, 2021 at the Provincial Capitol Building, Dumaguete City. (ral/PIA7-NegOr)

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cluster 2 Head and Officer in Charge Farrah Gentuya said DILG can provide up to P15,000 ca

sh assistance under ECLIP for former militia ng bayan members who want to return to the folds of law.

“We still have to plan it out kung kanus-a. Ang DSWD they also have other support. It’s livelihood assistance. Karon pa nato ma-final kung pila or if it’s in kind or financial ba ang ihatag nila (We will plan when will turn it over to them. The DSWD also have their livelihood support assistance. We will finalize how much can they provide or if it is given in kind or in cash),” Gentuya told reporters in an interview.

The council has initially set the turnover of the cash aid to the 27 former militia ng bayan members in the first week of February.

Meanwhile, Peña reiterated the call for people who turned against the government to leave the armed struggle.

“Ang intensyon namin sana is kung pwede magbalik look na lang sila tulad nitong mga magkakaroon ng benepisyo sa ECLIP (Our intention is to convince them to return to the folds of law just like what these beneficiaries of ECLIP did),” Peña said.

“Hinihimk namin na magbalik loob sa gobyerno para maging normal ang kanilang pamumuhay. Kung susundin nila ito ay magiging tawhay na ang ating pamayanan para sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-uswag nato (We encourage them to come to the government and live normal lives. If this will happen, then our communities prosper and will be on its way to progress),” he added. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1065125