FIREARMS REMUNERATION. Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang (6th from right) leads the awarding of checks amounting to over PHP1 million to eight former members of the New People's Army (NPA) at the Provincial Capitol in Mati City on Tuesday (Oct. 1, 2019). Aside from the firearms remuneration, the ex-NPAs also received benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. (Contributed Photo)
DAVAO CITY -- Eight former New People's Army (NPA) rebels who turned in their firearms to the provincial government of Davao Oriental received checks on Tuesday as part of the government's firearms remuneration program.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang personally handed over the checks amounting to PHP1.04 million in a ceremony at the Provincial Capitol in Mati City.
Aside from the firearms remuneration, the former rebels also received benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), amounting to PHP65,000 for each surrenderer.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also handed out PHP20,000 for each surrenderer.
Dayanghirang reminded the former rebels to invest their money wisely "in a way that would help them sustain their income and improve their lives."
Orle Cabaobao, provincial director of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said the former rebels received twice the amount of their weapons’ assessed cash value.
Funded by the DILG, the remuneration of firearms undergoes a process being facilitated by the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Intelligence Committee (JAPIC), a special body which validates whether the surrenderers are authentic members of the NPA or Militia ng Bayan while also verifying the weapons being turned in.
Brig. Gen. Manuel Sequitin, the Army 701st Brigade commander, hopes that with the firearms remuneration, more rebels will be enticed to yield to the government and "take advantage of the many benefits that await them upon their surrender."
“In our statistics, more firearms are being recovered as to its ratio with the NPA rebels,” Sequitin said, adding that, “this indicates that the NPA recruitment for new members is already weakening.” (PNA)
