YIELDED GUNS. The Armed Forces of the Philippines presents on Tuesday (April 2, 2019) to the Iloilo provincial government some of the firearms surrendered by seven former New People's Army rebels in Iloilo who avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program program of the government. The former rebels are members of the Central Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Panay. (Photo by Gail Momblan)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recovered seven firearms from New People’s Army (NPA) rebel returnees in the first quarter of 2019.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recovered seven firearms from New People’s Army (NPA) rebel returnees in the first quarter of 2019.
In an interview on Tuesday, Lt. Col. Sisenando Magbalot Jr., commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion (IB), said the firearms were surrendered by seven former rebels as they availed of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government.
The 61st IB presented the surrendered firearms to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
Magbalot said the former rebels are members of the Central Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Panay who used to operate in Tapaz, Capiz, and the towns of Calinog, Lambunao, Janiuay, and Maasin in Iloilo province.
The 61st IB presented the surrendered firearms to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
Magbalot said the former rebels are members of the Central Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Panay who used to operate in Tapaz, Capiz, and the towns of Calinog, Lambunao, Janiuay, and Maasin in Iloilo province.
“These rebels applied for the E-CLIP while the firearms are turned-over to the Philippine National Police for processing,” he said.
E-CLIP ensures that surrendering communist rebels have a holistic package of benefits that they can avail of, such as livelihood, medical assistance and legal assistance, education, and housing.
Magbalot said they are in the “dissemination stage” of the E-CLIP because there are many rebels who are not aware of such program.
“Many of the regular members of the NPA are not aware of this program of the government. They don’t know that they can avail these programs and clear their names,” he said.
Although Magbalot cannot be specific with the identities of the seven, he said they were the recorded rebels who surrendered for the first quarter in Iloilo province.
The seven surrendered firearms consisting of .38 caliber revolvers, home-made firearms, and one high-powered firearm.
“We expect that regular NPA rebels have high-powered firearms like M16, M14, and AK47 rifle,” Magbalot said, adding that the Militiang Bayan or those dubbed as “farmers by day, rebels by night” are also expected by the Army to possess low-powered firearms.
Magbalot said that low-powered firearms like .45 caliber pistols under the possession of the Militiang Bayan are used to back the rebels in encounters.
E-CLIP ensures that surrendering communist rebels have a holistic package of benefits that they can avail of, such as livelihood, medical assistance and legal assistance, education, and housing.
Magbalot said they are in the “dissemination stage” of the E-CLIP because there are many rebels who are not aware of such program.
“Many of the regular members of the NPA are not aware of this program of the government. They don’t know that they can avail these programs and clear their names,” he said.
Although Magbalot cannot be specific with the identities of the seven, he said they were the recorded rebels who surrendered for the first quarter in Iloilo province.
The seven surrendered firearms consisting of .38 caliber revolvers, home-made firearms, and one high-powered firearm.
“We expect that regular NPA rebels have high-powered firearms like M16, M14, and AK47 rifle,” Magbalot said, adding that the Militiang Bayan or those dubbed as “farmers by day, rebels by night” are also expected by the Army to possess low-powered firearms.
Magbalot said that low-powered firearms like .45 caliber pistols under the possession of the Militiang Bayan are used to back the rebels in encounters.
“Militiang Bayan who utilize these low-powered firearms are used as the force multiplier. They tap these people so as they can say they are great in number when the Army operate in a certain area,” he said.
Magbalot said the rebel group will weaken with the firearms now in the custody of the government troops.
“But the main objective is to disseminate the E-CLIP and we hope that because of this, we will have additional people who will surrender,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066296
Magbalot said the rebel group will weaken with the firearms now in the custody of the government troops.
“But the main objective is to disseminate the E-CLIP and we hope that because of this, we will have additional people who will surrender,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066296
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