21 ex-NPA rebels in Tarlac get financial aid under E-CLIP

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 14, 2023): 21 ex-NPA rebels in Tarlac get financial aid under E-CLIP (By Zorayda Tecson)

AID FOR EX-REBELS. Former rebels receive financial assistance in Tarlac City, Tarlac province on June 9, 2023. Lt. Col. Jeszer Bautista, commanding officer of the Army's 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, said a total of PHP415,000 cash aid was received by the former members of the NPA-Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla-Tarlac-Zambales (KLG-TarZam). (Photo courtesy of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – At least 21 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Tarlac province have received financial assistance as part of the government’s continuing effort to help them start new lives.

This is under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which aims to help former rebels reintegrate into the community.

Lt. Col. Jeszer Bautista, commanding officer of the Army 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, said on Wednesday that a total of PHP415,000 cash aid were received by the former members of the NPA-Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla-Tarlac-Zambales (KLG-TarZam) last June 9.

Bautista thanked the provincial government of Tarlac and other local government agencies for their active participation in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) that implements the E-CLIP.

He also asked the remaining members of the KLG-TarZam to lay down their arms and return to mainstream society.

“Aming hinihikayat ang natitirang terorista at miyembro ng KLG- TarZam na sumuko na dahil maraming tulong ang inihanda ng pamahalaan para sa kanila. Hindi sila pababayaan ng kanilang pamahaalan at ng kanilang kasundaluhan (We are encouraging the remaining terrorists and members of KG-TarZam to surrender because there are more assistance the government prepared for them. They will not be abandoned by the government and the military,” Bautista said in a news program.

Tarlac Governor Susan Yap welcomed the voluntary surrender of the 21 former rebels, whom she said is vital for the peace and progress of the province.

“Kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan ay hindi tayo magiging progresibo, kaya ako ay natutuwa dahil sa kanilang pakikiisang loob at sa kanilang pagbabalik sa normal at mapayapang sociedad (Without peace, we will not progress. Thus, I am glad for their cooperation and for their return to the normal and peaceful society),” the governor said.

This is the fourth time that the government has distributed financial aid to former rebels in Tarlac this year.

Last Jan. 10, a total of 18 former rebels in the province received cash aid in a payout held at the DSWD Regional Office in this city.

Another 47 former rebels likewise received a PHP20,000 livelihood assistance each in Tarlac City last Feb. 2.

Last April 11, a total of 28 former rebels likewise received cash aid in Tarlac City.

Bautista expressed hope that the former rebels would properly use the financial assistance as they return to normal lives.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203556