BUTUAN CITY – A former New People's Army (NPA) rebel received P518,000 for the 11 high-powered firearms he surrendered to the government in the Southern Mindanao region.
The reward was given to the former NPA rebel through the Firearms Remuneration Program, said 1st Lt. Arthur Y. Garidan, Jr.,Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the 66th Infantry (Kabalikat) Battalion (66th IB).
He said the check was personally handed over by Davao de Oro Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy to the former NPA rebel during an awarding ceremony held at the headquarters of the 66th IB in Barangay Cabinuangan, New Bataan, Davao de Oro last week which was also participated in by the heads of local government agencies and Philippine Army units.
The firearms remuneration is one of the many grants provided under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP of the Department of Interior and Local Government that can be availed of by former rebels who voluntarily surrendered their firearms.
This is part of the initiatives of the government to encourage armed members to go back to the folds of the law and yield their firearms which have been used by the Communist Terrorist Groups in waging terror in the communities, Garidan said.
Davao de Oro Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Noel C. Duarte emphasized that the remuneration received by the former rebel is twice the appraised cash value of the firearms based on the existing implementing guidelines of E-CLIP and had undergone validation by the duly authorized body.
Col. Krishnamurti A. Mortela, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 701st Infantry Brigade, said the government’s effort to help those who submit themselves to the folds of the law is sincere and that the members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) can trust the government especially the Philippine Army to support them as they go back to mainstream society.
During the handover ceremony, Gov. Uy said it is a milestone achieved by the provincial government marking the 2nd year of the implementation of Executive Order 70 and PTF-ELCAC.
“Moreover, it served as solid evidence that E-CLIP is not a fraud or a mere propaganda as what the communist group claims but a legitimate program that provides an opportunity for those who want to surrender to live a peaceful life with their families,” he added.
The former rebel who turned over the firearms to the government thanked the local government and the Philippine Army.
“The life I have now is far better than when I was still part of the NPA. Everyday, I would ask myself if I would survive or die. With God’s mercy, despite the years I have spent in the revolution, He still gave me a chance to live and reunite with my family. Indeed, the government is really there to help us. Rest assured that I will use this money for good. The nine years that I have spent as a rebel ends here. From now on, I promise to dedicate my life to serving my family and the government,” the former NPA rebel said.