Former rebels to receive financial assistance worth P1.4M

• Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1371450067145/former-rebels-to-receive-financial-assistance-worth-p1-4m
• Tuesday, December 15, 2015

By Gideon C. Corgue (ALT/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – At least 21 former rebels who voluntarily surrendered to the 53rd Infantry (MATAPAT) Battalion, Philippine Army will receive checks worth P1.4-M on Wednesday.

LtCol. Alvin Luzon, commanding officer of the 53rd IB, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency said 40 checks will be awarded to former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a formal ceremony to be held at the Amusement and Events Center, Capitol compound here.

The cash assistance is part of the Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (CLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which aims to persuade rebels to abandon their armed struggle and be part of a peaceful society.

The awarding and distribution of checks to former rebels will magnify the impact of the government’s CLIP program in Zamboanga del Sur, according to the army chief.

“We intend to snowball the impact of the CLIP program in our campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CNN),” Luzon reported.

However, he attributed the success of their counter-insurgency campaign to the successful implementation of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) ‘Bayanihan’ in their area of responsibility.

Luzon said the MATAPAT troopers conducted focused military operation with the ‘Bayanihan’ team, where soldiers socially immersed in barangays.

“With the immersion of soldiers in barangays and sitios, we established rapport with them, determined their social and basic needs and responded to their call for assistance. We do not only help in maintaining peace and order but also address social concerns,” Luzon said.

He said the troopers have intensified stakeholders’ engagement with the active involvement and collaboration of national government agencies and local government units.

With the growing number of surrenderees, Luzon expressed confidence that there will be more rebels to lay down their arms, return to mainstream society and live a peaceful and happy life.

Expected to attend the event are Western Mindanao Command Chief MGen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz, PNP9 Regional Director Chief Supt. Miguel C. Antonio, Jr., DILG Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil, 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division Commander MGen. Gerardo Barrientos, and Governor Antonio H. Cerilles.