BACOLOD City – Some 15 former Yunit Militia members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in this province received a total of P225,000 or P15,000 each in immediate assistance from the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Fourteen of them surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in northern Negros while the other one yielded to the 62IB in central Negros.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the turn-over of the checks to the recipients in rites held at the provincial capitol grounds in this city on Thursday afternoon.
“I am thankful that you have decided to return to the fold of the law. I hope that you will serve as an example to your former comrades and you can convince them to surrender. We in the government will help you in the best way we can. The checks you received will help you start over,” Lacson told the former militia members.
The turn-over rites were witnessed by Third District Board Member Andrew Montelibano; Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade; Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Alvaran, commander of 79IB; Colonel Romy Palgue, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office; and Local Government Operations Officer VII Fatima Diaz of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the lead implementing agency of the E-CLIP.
Alvaran said the distribution of cash assistance to former Yunit Militia members clearly shows the government’s sincerity in its call for CPP-NPA members to return to mainstream society and reunite with their families.
“E-CLIP is solid evidence that the government is sincere in reintegrating former rebels in the mainstream society and in ending local communist armed conflict. I commend these former rebels for choosing the right path and becoming part of building a better community instead of fighting against government authorities,” he added.
On July 27, three former rebels (FRs) in this province received a total of P200,000 in immediate and remuneration assistance under the E-CLIP.
Each of the FRs, previously CPP-NPA combatants, was given a check of P30,000 as immediate assistance and P110,000 more for the firearms they turned over to the authorities.
On July 16, some 18 ex-NPA rebels in Negros Occidental also received immediate and reintegration assistance amounting to about P36,000 each as benefits under the E-CLIP. (With a report from PNA/PN)
