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Thursday, March 9, 2017
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DUMAGUETE City – New People’s Army (NPA) members in Negros Oriental are urged to surrender and avail themselves of P300,000 cash assistance from Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Marañon’s offer is not limited to former rebels in his province, said Lieutenant Colonel Roderick Garcia, commander of the Philippine Army’s 79th “Masaligan” Infantry Battalion based in Tanjay City.
Marañon aims for lasting peace across Negros so his offer stands for all former rebels in the island region, Garcia explained on Wednesday.
Earlier the Negros Occidental governor announced that he will give as much as P300,000 to every rebel who will surrender to the government and turn in a high-powered firearm.
Those without firearm, on the other hand, will get up to P100,000.
Marañon’s offer is on top of the P65,000 cash that the government, through the Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (CLIP), is giving every rebel returnee, Garcia pointed out.
Government is carrying out the CLIP through the departments of Social Welfare and Development and the Interior and Local Government.
Rebel returnees will undergo a process before qualifying as beneficiary to the CLIP and Marañon’s grant, said Garcia.
More or less 50 NPA members are still around Negros Oriental, mostly in Guihulngan and Canlaon cities and Tayasan and Ayungon towns, but many of them cross provincial boundaries, he said.
Garcia hopes the rebels will take the offers, which he said will no longer stand once a peace agreement is reached.
“Arrangements” on livelihood and housing assistance, among others, will come in a package as part of the agreement, similar to what was offered the Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade members, he said.
Garcia said rebels wishing to surrender may send feelers to the authorities, including the Philippine Army. He assured them of safety. (PNA)
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