by Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — The government is not sparing any effort to ensure the successful integration of surrendered New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels into mainstream society.
“They are given trainings at TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), psycho-social debriefing, housing where appropriate and needed, remuneration (for) surrendered firearms,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Friday when asked what specific assistance are being extended to rebel returnees.
Aside from this, NPA surrenderers also have the option to join the militia and regular military units, aside from availing of scholarships to further their education, Detoyato added.
“And they have the option to join the CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit), or the regular army force. In some instances, they apply for scholarships to continue their formal education. Others request for relocation or return to their places of origin,” the AFP official added.
In the first two months of 2019, a total of 608 NPA members and supporters surrendered to government troops. This can be broken down into 107 regular armed rebels, with 137 “Milisya ng Bayan”, and 364 mass supporters.
“We hope to receive more rebels who want to return to the folds of the law rather than the casualties we record daily in the bloody battlefield,” Detoyato said.
