Ex-rebels get financial aids

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Peace and Order Council awarded a cash and remuneration assistance amounting to P200,000 to three former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who earlier surrendered to the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).

In a press release, the Army said that each rebel returnee received a check for P30,000 from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office for the immediate assistance or subsidy that will serve as support for their mobilization expenses while their enrollment in the program is being processed.

The turnover of the cash assistance led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson was held at the Provincial Capitol here Monday, in the presence of Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), and Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Flores, 62nd IB commander.

The immediate assistance, according to the military, is a component benefit of the Enhanced – Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which provides a complete package of assistance to former rebels.

The rebel returnees who also turned over their firearms to the military forces were given remuneration assistance amounting to P110,000 from the provincial government.

The amount they will each receive depends on the corresponding value of the surrendered weapon.

In his message to the rebel returnees, Lacson said that he hopes the cash assistance will benefit them and their families in living a new life, and will serve as a testament of the government’s sincerity to its mission.

Meanwhile, Pasaporte said that more rebels and active NPAs will be enticed to yield to the government and take advantage of the benefits waiting for them upon their surrender. “Lay down your arms, return to the folds of the law and avail the government’s programs,” he added.