BIG REWARD. Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (2nd from left) and Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. (fourth from left) on Wednesday (Nov. 22, 2023) in Luna, Apayao were presented several high-powered firearms and ammunition, among others, that were either surrendered by former rebels or confiscated from individuals. During the same event, Teodoro administered the oath of allegiance to six former rebels operating in the province of Apayao who received PHP500,000 each from the provincial government after voluntarily surrendering to avail of the national government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
LUNA, Apayao – Six former rebels who have opted to re-embrace allegiance to the government and support the cause for peace and security received PHP500,000 each from the Apayao provincial government on Wednesday.
“We did not expect this kind of amount but this will mean a lot for the change that we are starting with our lives. This is a huge Christmas gift, along with the chance to spend Christmas with our child for the first time,” “Ka Axel” (not her real name), 20, said in Filipino after receiving the cash assistance in a ceremony here.
“Ka Axel” joined the communist movement in 2020 and stayed with the group for three years. She became the wife of 44-year-old “Ka Lar”, who was the squad leader of the East Front, operating in Cagayan Valley.
After a very long time, she was again able to hold her child, now three-year-old, on Wednesday, which led to an emotional scene between a mother and child.
Aside from the cash aid, which is part of the provincial government’s measures to address insurgency, the rebels also got commitments from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, and several others in line with the government’s anti-insurgency program under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The six former rebels also took their oath of allegiance administered by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Teodoro, in a message delivered in Ilocano during the event, said that while the amount extended to the former rebels is sizeable it does not compare to the freedom of living freely.
"The amount, half a million, one million is huge but life is more expensive. We hope that this generosity of Apayao will be a proof of their sincerity towards peace and security that is boundless and will extend beyond Apayao,” he said.
He said local governments have a free hand on how they will manage peace and order situation in their respective areas, citing Apayao’s initiative to discourage rebels’ entry into the province and to urge those who are in the armed movement to voluntarily surrender.
During the same event, the Armed Forces of the Philippines presented to Teodoro the recently confiscated war materials and those surrendered by the former rebels among which were six M16 rifles; a grenade launcher; an M653 rifle; a lower receiver of a grenade launcher; several ammunitions for M203, M16, Cal. 24; magazine caps; rifle scope, detonating explosives and anti-personnel landmine; anti-tank landmine; 70 meters long safety fuse; and a blasting fuse.
Five of the high-powered firearms were surrendered by former rebels while 18 were seized in anti-insurgency operations.
"The landmine is very destructive, it does not choose anybody when it explodes and we are glad these were confiscated,” Teodoro said. (PNA)
