BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – A total of 21 former combatants of the terrorists New People’s Army (NPA) on Monday, June 15, 2020 received financial assistance from the Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government.
The distribution of financial assistance, held at the Balanghai Hotel in Butuan City was led by the top officials of Agusan del Norte headed by Governor Dale B. Corvera, Agusan del Norte 2nd district representative Ma Angelica M. Amante-Matba.
The distribution activity was also graced by Regional Director Lilibeth Famacion of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Caraga Region (DILG-13), 402nd Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Maurito L. Licudine, 29th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste and 23rd Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo.
Of the 21 former rebels who received assistance, 15 had surrendered to the troopers of the 23rd IB, most were former members of Guerrilla Front (GF) 4A of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA, four (4) to the 29th Infantry Battalion, and two (2) to the Police Regional Office in Caraga Region.
A total of 12 firearms were handed over by the former rebels to the government during the event, seven from those who surrendered to 23rd IB while five from the 29th IB.
Among the firearms they surrendered to the 23rd IB include two .45 caliber pistols, two M16 rifles and three carbine rifles. The firearms the former rebels surrendered to the 29th IB include one M14 rifle, one .38 caliber pistol, one AK-47 rifle, one carbine rifle, and one shotgun.
During the event, a ceremonial turnover of the firearms was featured to symbolize the former rebels’ surrender, turn away from violence and embrace peaceful lives with the families in their respective communities.
The firearms were received by Gov. Corvera and Congresswoman Amante-Matba during the ceremony.
Each of the former rebels received PHP86,000.00 as immediate livelihood and re-integration assistance.
They also received hygiene kits from the Department of Health in the Caraga Region (DOH-13).
Among those who received the E-CLIP assistance was Alias “Karla” who expressed gratitude to the government for the support they received as they will start their new lives.
She also cited the 23rd IB for providing the former rebels abodes inside their headquarters and a community that inspired them for months and helped them strengthen their decision to renew their lives.
“Nagpasalamat ako ug dako sa atong gobyerno ug sa tanan nga agency nga naningkamot aron mahan-ay ang among kinabuhi ug nalandagan ang among kaugmaon. Ang 23IB Philipine Army nga kanunay nagtabang ka namo wala mi nila pasagdi gikan sa pag surrender namo. Layo ra kaayo ang trato sa CPP-NPA sa amoa kung itandi nako sa pag trato sa kasundaluhan ug sa gobyerno sa amo. Gawas sa mga benepisyo nga akong nadawat ilalom sa E-CLIP Ila pakong gitabangan aron manginabuhi me nga normal kauban sa among pamilya,” Alias Karla said.
Alias Karla was recruited by the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) at the age of 14 and took advantage of her innocence by giving her false hope that they will help her to finish her studies when she joined the armed group.
She voluntarily surrendered last March 27, 2019 to Congresswoman Amante-Matba, who was then the governor of Agusan del Norte.
Alias Karla started the new journey of her renewed life inside the 23rd IB headquarters where she met the right guy she felt in love with, a member of CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA), and exchanged vows with him inside the camp on December 18, 2019.
Meanwhile, 23rd IB commander Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo expressed gladness upon seeing the growing number of CNT members leaving the despairing and hopeless cause of the communist movement.
“I am glad that more and more members of CNTs are now coming back to the folds of the law and decided to embrace a peaceful life and reintegrated into the mainstream society, Paulo said.
He also called on the remaining members of the CNTs to go back to mainstream society while they still have a chance.
“We are always willing to help you to live a normal life and we will never hesitate to assist you in availing the E-CLIP program of the government for you to start a new life. Let us help one another in ending an insurgency that added to the problems our government faces nowadays,” Paulo said.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
https://www.kalinawnews.com/21-former-rebels-receive-e-clip-financial-assistance/
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