43 ex-NPAs get financial, emergency aid

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Mar 9, 2019): 43 ex-NPAs get financial, emergency aid

FORTY-THREE former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels received P65,000 each, or for a total of P2.7 million, as livelihood and emergency assistance from the government, through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-clip).

The distribution of the financial assistance was held on Friday, March 8, at the headquarters of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.
Those who surrendered their firearms received additional cash as remunerations depending on the value such as P50,000 for M-16 Armalite rifle and P60,000 for M-14 rifle.

“The government is serious in the implementation of the program and we urge others (NPAs) to grab the opportunity and avail the benefits of E-CLIP” said National Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu.

The distribution of the cash assistance was held in time for the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a half-way house for the former NPA rebels.

Mapagu, also the chairperson of the Task Force Balik Loob, led the groundbreaking ceremony of the half-way house and was joined by Zamboanga del Sur Governmor Antonio Cerilles and other head of government agencies who form part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

The half-way house will be built at the back of Camp David Sabido that houses the headquarters of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion in Guipo town.

Brigadier General Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, said the Half-way house serves as the venue for the rehabilitation, healing session and education and skills training activities of the former NPA rebels.

“The activities in the half-way house will help them recuperate from the bad experiences they’ve encountered in the hands of NPA organization,” Ancan said.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1796095/Zamboanga/Local-News/43-ex-NPAs-get-financial-emergency-aid