Gov’t has enough resources to cater to rebel returnees – Army

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 15): Gov’t has enough resources to cater to rebel returnees – Army

Government has enough resources to cater to the needs of rebels who return to the folds of the law. Colonel Rey Leonardo Guerrero, commander of the 701st Infantry Brigade issued this statement following the surrender of a former leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) to the local government of Mati City, Davao Oriental Thursday. Ricardo Lucnod ended his involvement with the NPA in August 2012 and decided to surrender to Mayor Michelle Rabat of Mati City due to the hardships and sickness suffered in the mountains, he said. Lucnod will be integrated through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the city of Mati and Davao Oriental provincial government intended for former rebels, Guerrero said.... In six years, from August 2006 to July this year, the number of rebel returnees soared up to 1,027 attributing this development to the Philippine Army’s Peace and Development Outreach Program characterized by the continuous efforts of peace and development teams (PDT), together with the local government units, line government agencies and civil society organizations to reach out to far-flung communities, Lt. Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division said. “Almost 60 percent of the surrenderees yielded from August 2010 to July this year,” he said.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381350265945