CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Former communist-New People’s Army (NPA) rebels received an initial P50,000 financial assistance from the government in Misamis Oriental.
Maj. Rodolfo S. Cordero, Jr., Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID), told the Manila Bulletin on Tuesday that the former NPAs received their financial aid during the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC X) meeting in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday.
“Aside from the initial cash assistance, these former rebels (FRs) also received other benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Integration Program (E-CLIP), such as skills training, housing and medical assistance, loan and market access, legal assistance and educational assistance, among others,” Cordero said.
According to 58th Infantry Battalion (58th IB) commander Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, the five FRs who initially received the cash aid are representatives of the 14 FRs who returned to the folds of the government through his unit.
“We still have 9 other FRs staying in our headquarters who will also receive their respective assistance in a separate awarding ceremony,” Canatoy said.
The cash assistance was handed over to the beneficiaries by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Jose Ruperto ‘Martin’ Andanar, who is also the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 10.
In his message, Andanar commended the 4th ID for facilitating the surrender of the former CPP-NPAs.
“I congratulate the 4th ID under the command of Major General Centino for keeping the peace and security in Northern Mindanao”, the PCOO secretary said.
Maj. Gen. Andres C. Centino, commanding general of the Army’s Northeastern (Caraga) and Northern Mindanao 4th ID and Joint Task Force Diamond commander, welcomed the FRs for returning to the folds of the law.
“With the continuous intervention of our partner agencies, which provides the needed services in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas, we are confident that more Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) will be returning to the government especially this coming Christmas season,” he said .
“While we continue our security operations against the CNTs, we also provide an avenue of peaceful return through our Balik-loob Program,” said the 4th ID chief.
“President Duterte wants to end this insurgency problem before his term ends. I am therefore urging the remaining NPA rebels to surrender and avail of the integration and livelihood programs that the government has in store for them,” Centino added.
The awarding ceremony was witnessed by the Regional Directors of government line agencies, Attorney Jocelyn Lood-Mateo representing Governor Yevgeny Vincente B Emano of Misamis Oriental, and other members of the RTF-ELCAC 10.