Provincial Government extends formal acceptance, financial aid to surrendering rebels

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By Catherine Santos (with excerpts from News Release of PIO-Palawan/AFP’s CRG)

The provincial government of Palawan formally extended acceptance and granted financial aid to five former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a ceremony held at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 13.

Vice-Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates and Western Commands’ Commander Ronald Joseph led the simple program where the provincial government formally accepted the former rebels who surrendered under the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) of the Provincial Government and the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Socrates said he is elated with the development as it marks another milestone to both civilian authority and the military. He also encouraged other ideological rebels to do the same, emphasizing his hope for genuine peace to be attained in the province.

According to Lucita Padul, LSIP’s focal person, the five individuals voluntarily surrendered to authorities this year and are presently under the care of a government agency that supervises their rehabilitation process.

The LSIP is anchored on Ordinance 1540 “Establishing the Implementing Guidelines on the Provision of Assistance to Rebel Returnees” which grants the opportunity for rebels in Palawan to surrender and rehabilitate back to society. Part of the ordinance includes the granting of financial assistance ranging from PHP25,000 to PHP50,000 through the DILG. Based on the provision of the ordinance, a returnee is entitled to a monthly PHP2,700 allowance while undergoing rehabilitation. Aside from financial assistance, the government also provides the ‘returnees’ with counseling services, food assistance, shelter assistance and referral services.

The five (5) former rebels constitutes the first batch of ‘surrenderees’ in the province. The remaining cases are still being processed by the DILG. Around 20 former rebels in Palawan have surrendered to the AFP since 2014.

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