14 ex-NPA rebels get P1,054,000 cash aid

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental turned over P1,054,000 worth of financial assistance to a total of 14 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, along with Brigadier General Orlando Edralin, commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), and police officials led by Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, acting director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, and Juan Jovian Ingeniero, director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-6 led the turnover of cash aid to the former rebels held during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting at Negros Residences here.

The rebel returnees received immediate assistance of P15,000 each, and P50,000 each for livelihood assistance.

The Army battalions such as the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), 15th IB, 94th IB, and 79th IB received reintegration assistance of P21,000 each.

This reintegration assistance will defray the expenses incurred by the rebel returnees while in the custody of the receiving unit, pending the processing of their certification.

The rebel returnees were from the towns of Toboso, Isabela, and Cauayan, and Escalante City in Negros Occidental, and Ayungon town in Negros Oriental.

They also received food packs, sacks of rice, and boxes of canned goods.

This is part of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government, which is one of the many strategies to obtain just and lasting peace, social transformation, and inclusive development.