BACOLOD CITY – The Himamaylan city government in Negros Occidental has distributed a total of PHP250,000 in additional cash and educational assistance to 25 former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels.
The turnover rites recently held at the old city hall in Barangay 1 was witnessed by troops of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion, the unit facilitating the provision of assistance to the former rebels.
Capt. Eduardo Rarugal Jr., civil-military operations officer of the 94IB, said the amount is the second tranche of assistance released to the recipients, including former combatants and Yunit Militia members who surrendered last July.
Each former rebel was provided PHP10,000 as immediate support from the local government unit (LGU) while they are still awaiting the assistance they will receive under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, acknowledged the support of the city government in the troops’ endeavor to end the insurgency.
“The collaboration between the LGU and the Army is a clear manifestation that the whole-of-nation approach is at work. I am appealing to the remaining NPA rebels to surrender now,” he said.
Last Sept. 27, the same group of former rebels also received PHP200,000 in financial and educational assistance from the city government.
Some 15 of them were recipients of cash aid worth PHP10,000 each while 10 others, who have gone back to school, were given PHP5,000 each. (PNA)/PN
