BACOLOD CITY – Seven former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) received a total of P70,000 financial assistance in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Thursday, April 11.

MAYOR Filomeno Reyes (standing) meets seven rebel returnees who were provided a total of P70,000 financial assistance in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Thursday, April 11. (Photo courtesy of 62nd IB)
Each rebel returnee received P10,000 under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration (E-CLIP) from the Guihulngan City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (GCTF-ELCAC).
According to the Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), they surrendered to the GCTF-ELCAC, military, and Guihulngan City Police Station on December 27, 2023.
Mayor Filomeno Reyes assured that the government will help them as many jobs and opportunities are waiting for them in the city.
“Ang NPA indi ninyo kauban. Dili mi nalipay nga nahimo kamo nga biktima. Ako dili gyud ko mahadlok magtabang sa inyo tungod kay ako ang nagatindog nga tatay sa syudad sang Guihulngan City (The NPA is not your comrades. We are not happy that you have become a victim, I am not afraid to help you because I am the standing father of the city of Guihulngan),” Reyes said.
Meanwhile, a 55-year-old NPA turned himself in to authorities in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday, April 11.
According to the Army 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), he was a member of Squad 1 and Taxation of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF)-D of Komiteng Rehiyon Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KRNCBS).
Police Lt. Col. Nazer Canja, San Carlos police chief, said the rebel returnee was in the armed struggle for four years. He decided to surrender due to exhaustion and has been assessed to enable him to avail of government assistance, Canja said.