ASSISTANCE. "Duta” (2nd from left) from Dumarao, Capiz receives on Monday the amount of PHP10,000 from Governor Esteban Evan Contreras (3rd from left) under the peace initiatives of the provincial government of Capiz. He surrendered to the government last year, said Maj. Cenon Pancito III, chief of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office on Tuesday (July 13, 2021). (Photo courtesy of 301st Brigade, Philippine Army)
ILOILO CITY – Some two former members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Panay on Monday received government assistance as they continue to lead normal lives after surrendering in 2020.
Maj. Cenon Pancito III, chief of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (3IDPAO), in an interview Tuesday, said the former rebels have been profiled, validated, and found to be eligible for the assistance.
However, Pancito did not reveal any of the information about the former posts held by the two surrenderers for security reasons.
"Princess" from the town of Calinog, Iloilo received PHP65,000 under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) while "Duta" from Dumarao, Capiz was extended PHP10,000 financial assistance under the peace initiatives of the provincial government of Capiz.
Pancito said the PHP65,000 "Princess" received consisted of PHP15,000 immediate assistance and PHP50,000 livelihood assistance.
Under E-CLIP, they are also entitled to automatic membership to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, free medical check-ups, training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and even allowed to stay in halfway houses, he added.
“Halfway houses are provisions for living where they can live normally outside their community where the threat remains high,” he said.
The local government will also extend a certain amount for them to recover, he added.
He said the government has multiple programs to be availed of by the former rebels and E-CLIP is just one of these.
Pancito added that more former rebels are expected to receive assistance under the E-CLIP and the government is just validating.
“They have to be validated by intelligence units that they are indeed NPA (New People’s Army). They have to pass various agencies; the Philippine Army, PNP (Philippine National Police), the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), and local government units,” he said.
Brig. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the 301st Brigade, said E-CLIP is an important program of the government as the former rebels try to start a normal life.
In a statement, he called on the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA to surrender for them to live peacefully with their loved ones.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines. (PNA)
