RETURNEES. Newly-installed Bulacan Provincial Director, Colonel Emma Libunao presents the 14 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 185 members of Kalipunan Ng Damayang Mahihirap Kadamay Group (KADAMAY), the alleged urban poor front organization of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities during the “Pagbabalik Loob Sa Gobyerno” program at Camp Alejo Santos, City of Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday (December 5, 2019). Also in photo (from left) are Governor Daniel Fernando, PRO 3 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, 48th IB Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Felix Emeterio Valdez, and DILG provincial director Darwin David. (Photo by Manny Balbin)
CAMP ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan -- Fourteen members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 185 members of Kalipunan Ng Damayang Mahihirap Kadamay Group (KADAMAY), the alleged urban poor front organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) operating in the area, voluntarily denounced armed struggle and surrendered to the authorities on Thursday.
Bulacan police acting director, Colonel Emma Libunao presented the rebel returnees and the 185 Kadamay members during the “Pagbabalik Loob Sa Gobyerno” program held in this camp.
Present during the program were Governor Daniel Fernando, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) Director, Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia; and Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque.
Libunao said the surrenderers are eligible of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
E-CLIP is one of the flagship programs of the Duterte administration which aims to provide social equity to former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) and the Militia ng Bayan to reintegrate them into mainstream society.
The E-CLIP provides a wide array of benefits such as financial assistance, shelter, education, skills training, healthcare and legal assistance through a convergence of various national and local government agencies.
Sermonia, for his part, lauded the effort of the local municipality of Pandi town headed by Mayor Roque and Major Joy Placido, Pandi chief of police, who initiated the “balik-loob” program.
“Maraming salamat (sa) inyong pagbabalik loob. Dahil sa inyong presensya ngayong umaga, nabawasan ang posibilidad na may batang iiyak dahil sa nawalan ng ama o asawa na magluluksa. (Thank you for returning back to the mainstream society. With your presence this morning, the possibility that there is a child crying due to the loss of a father or a wife mourning will be lessened),” he said.
The PRO-3 chief said the national government is serious in maintaining peace and order in line with Executive Order No. 70, known as National Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Meanwhile, Governor Fernando said there is a big difference now as compared before wherein both the government and the rebel forces talked through bloody war with the use of guns and ammunition.
Fernando assured that the provincial government of Bulacan will provide social services and employment opportunities to the rebel returnees.
“The provincial government of Bulacan is implementing sustainable livelihood programs as well as scholarship programs for rebel returnees,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088009
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