ILOILO City – Eighty-seven New People’s Army (NPA) members who surrendered this year benefited from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) of the government.
Data from the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) showed that 57 of these ex-rebels were from the province of Capiz, seven from Iloilo and 23 from Negros Occidental.
According to Captain Cenon Pancito III,3ID spokesperson, these rebels surrendered between January and June.
“They can start new lives away from the hardships they suffered in the mountains,” said Pancito.
E-Clip offers surrendering rebels a holistic package of benefits that include livelihood assistance, medical assistance, education, housing, and legal assistance.
Pancito said a surrenderer will receive an initial benefit of P15,000 then another P50,000 will be released including housing and livelihood assistance, and another compensation if a firearm is surrendered.
“We assess the surrendering rebel. Dapat pasado ka sa mga criteria para maka-avail ng E-Clip kasi baka gamitin lang nila ang benefits na makuha nila at babalik rin sila,” said Pancito.
He urged rebels still hiding in the mountains to return to the fold of the government.
“Stop the armed-struggle and instead avail yourselves of the government’s E-Clip,” Pancito said./PN
