BALER, Aurora — The local government of Aurora, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), has granted financial assistance to six former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in this province.
Lt. Col. Edwin M. Paredes, battalion commander of the 56th Infantry “Tatag” Battalion, Philippine Army, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview earlier this week that the financial assistance amounting to PHP65,000 for each of the former rebels was provided under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
Under the CLIP, rebels who surrender receive PHP50,000 for livelihood assistance and PHP15,000 for immediate financial assistance.
The CLIP beneficiaries were Marites Esteban Ilaguno, alias Ka Jenjen/Nimfa/John Well/Lea, political guide and regular member of Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) Sierra Madre (SM) of NPA; Joseph Ilaguno, alias Ka Erwin/Moymoy, squad leader Tersera KLG; Ardie Catipon, alias Soter, vice commanding officer of Larangang Guerilla sa Patag (LGP); Jose Gallegos, alias Ka Jeff of Sangay ng Partido sa Platun (SPP) Central Aurora; Edgar Baldonade, alias Ka Adim, vice commanding officer and Carl Rissa Baldonade, alias ka Kim, political guide SPP central Aurora.
Paredes said these former NPA rebels decided to go down and surrender because they wanted to live peacefully and to avail of the government’s livelihood, peace and development program.
“The CLIP program started in 2011 benefitting former rebels on social welfare, livelihood, health which also aims to facilitate the mainstreaming of former NPA rebels as productive citizens in their communities,” he said.
Based on joint circular issued by the DILG and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), qualified beneficiaries of CLIP are those regular members of NPA who surfaced 2011 onwards and have expressed the desire to abandon armed violence and become productive members of the society including their partners/spouses (whether legitimate or illegitimate), parents or siblings, if applicable.
Also qualified are those who did not receive full assistance under the Social Integration Program based on OPAPP’s special list of former rebels that surfaced in 2007 to 2009.
Paredes also vowed to assist the former rebels to live normal lives.
Meanwhile, Governor Gerardo Noveras is very grateful that the rebels finally returned to the mainstream of the society and is hoping they will become productive partners of the government in establishing peace and order in the community. (Jason De Asis/PNA)
