Troops drop 4,000 surrender leaflets for NPA rebels in Sarangani

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 14): Troops drop 4,000 surrender leaflets for NPA rebels in Sarangani

Army troopers dropped some 4,000 leaflets on Monday over Sarangani Province urging the surrender of New People’s Army rebels operating in the area.

Lt. Col. Marion Angcao, commanding officer of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion, said they dropped the leaflets aboard a Philippine Air Force UH-1 or Huey chopper while delivering relief goods to evacuees in a remote village in Alabel town in Sarangani.

More than 100 individuals evacuated last week following clashes between troops and the NPA’s Front 71 in parts of Barangay Datal Anggas in Alabel.

Eight alleged NPA rebels were captured while another has surrendered as a result of the operations.

Angcao said the dropping of the leaflets is part of the strategies adopted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in line with the implementation of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
“This is aimed to promote peace and encourage the surrender of NPA rebels based in Sarangani,” he said in a press conference.

Each leaflet carried the phrase “Manag-uban Kita sa Tul-id nga Dalan (Let’s join together in the straight path)” on one side.

The other side details pictures of firearms and monetary benefits that may be availed by the surrenderers.

Under the CLIP, Angcao said each rebel returnee is entitled of support assistance amounting to PHP65,000.

If they yield along with their firearm, he said they could get additional compensation.

“More or less, a returnee could receive about PHP100,000. That’s for livelihood assistance,” he said.

CLIP reintegrates former rebels into the social mainstream and uplifts their socio-economic conditions to enable them to become active partners in the local development.

The program also seeks to contribute in the achievement of the goal of permanent peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups.

Col. Tyne Bañas, commanding officer of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, urged NPA rebels in the area to surrender and avail of the government’s reintegration program.

“Now is the time to turn your backs from the violent means of your cause. Join us and we’ll talk about these needed reforms,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=963785