TACLOBAN CITY – Seventy-one members, militias, and supporters of the New People's Army (NPA) have surrendered and received financial assistance from the city government of Borongan through its Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) recently.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, said on Thursday, September 7, that beneficiaries were two regular NPA members, 12 Milisyang Bayan (MB), five Batakang Organo sa Partido (BOP), and 52 Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) members.
Each regular NPA received P50,000 cash while the rest received P10,000 each to enable them to start a new life as they return to mainstream society.
Beneficiaries were from the far-flung Barangay San Andres and withdrew support and took their oath of allegiance to the government on August 19.
City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda emphasized the need to prioritize those who are less-fortunate.
"Since you have returned to the fold of the law, we hope that you will not go back to being rebels because we in the government are working hard to fulfill our duties to give equal service to you," he told the former rebels.
The LSIP initiated by the city government of Borongan through the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) and the Army aims to help sustain the peace effort and assistance in the city.