E-CLIP. Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. (4th from left) leads the turnover of financial assistance to former rebels in Iloilo province in a ceremony held at the Iloilo Convention Center on Thursday (Aug. 25, 2022). In his message before Iloilo mayors, Abalos asked for their help to address the insurgency in their areas. (Photo courtesy of DILG Region 6 FB page)
ILOILO CITY – Three former rebels from Iloilo province received a total of PHP203,000 package of assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) from Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Thursday.
“This will help them in starting over with their new, normal lives with their families and communities,” a statement from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office on Friday said.
Each of the three rebels received PHP65,000 consisting of PHP15,000 immediate assistance and PHP50,000 livelihood assistance.
One rebel received an additional PHP8,000 for firearm remuneration for turning over one pistol and a shotgun.
“Now is the time for embracing everyone. Gawin natin ang lahat upang maramdaman nila na hindi sila magsisisi (Let us do everything in order not to make them feel remorseful),” Abalos said during the release of the assistance at the ceremony held at the Iloilo Convention Center.
In addition to the release of the financial assistance to former rebels, Abalos also officiated the oathtaking ceremony of the newly elected officers of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter led by its president Mayor Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez of San Enrique town.
Fernandez urged the mayors to help with the local insurgency problem.
“We will make sure na maayos na itong problema natin about terrorism and rebels (We will make sure to fix this problem on terrorism and rebels,” he said.
Abalos echoed Fernandez's call as he asked for the mayors' support to boost the campaign by strengthening the barangay anti-drug abuse councils (BADACS) as illegal drug cases often get dismissed due to technicalities.
He requested the LGUs to assign a fiscal office employee to join buy-bust operations and serves as a Department of Justice witness like what is being done in Mandaluyong.
The secretary said the intensity of the anti-drug campaign would still be like before but “will be on the basis of the oath I have taken in accordance with the Constitution”.
Abalos also met with the members of the Regional Management Coordinating Committee and discussed issues such as decongestion of jails, humane treatment of persons deprived of liberty, and the need for improved fire stations and additional firetrucks in some municipalities. (PNA)
