By Pamela Mariz Geminiano/Philippine News Agency
BAGUIO CITY — A total of 71 former rebels and Militia ng Bayan (MB) members received financial assistance during the mass awarding of Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) benefits on Tuesday, Ifugao Governor Pedro Mayam-o has said.
“Each of the former rebels received PHP65,000 as immediate cash and livelihood assistance,” Governor Mayam-o said on Wednesday.
The Militia ng Bayan members on the other hand received PHP15,000 each.
Those who surrendered with their firearms also received Firearms Remuneration ranging from PHP45K to PHP100K.
The governor said the assistance is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s advocacy in reintegrating former rebels, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), and other special clients back to society.
Meanwhile, in a press release from the 5th Infantry Division on Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Narciso Nabulneg, commander of the 54th Infantry Battalion (54IB), lauded the former rebels for getting back to the society’s mainstream.
He urged them to continue convincing active rebels to stop the futile war they are waging.
“They have made the best decision of joining us in the mainstream society. We should continue to convince the still active NPA rebels to once and for all stop the futile war they are waging,” he said.
“The government has all the best programs to offer like peace and enjoy progressive lives for the former rebels, we have the Localized Peace-Talk and the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which actually offers a complete package of integration, livelihood and education program,” Nabulneg said.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
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