ILOILO CITY -- Three former rebels in Iloilo province on Thursday received a total of PHP195,000 financial assistance under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The male rebel returnees, all natives of Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao, Iloilo, received the financial assistance during the meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) at the capitol.
Each of the returnee received a PHP65,000 check, while PHP50,000 would go to their livelihood project, and PHP15,000 would serve as immediate assistance.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., DILG-Iloilo provincial director Teodora Sumagaysay and Col. Leonardo Peńa, deputy commander of the Philippine Army's 301st Infantry Brigade, assisted the turnover of checks.
Peńa said these rebel returnees surrendered on Aug. 15 last year. They brought with them three long rifles and a .45-caliber pistol, all functional.
The Technical Working Committee had yet to determine the additional amount to be given to the rebel returnees as remuneration for their firearms, Peńa added.
According to a 40-year-old rebel returnee, he will use the money to raise pigs in his backyard for livelihood and for the construction of his house.
“I decided to join the group because I have many problems,” he said, adding that he was with the communist movement for one-and-a-half years.
He said he was tired of walking in the mountains, thus he decided to surrender.
“I am really thankful that I am back now,” he added.
Peńa hoped that more rebels would return to the fold of the law.
To recall, 10 rebels from the province also received the same assistance from DILG in March and April last year. (PNA)
Photo by Cindy Ferrer
