Ex-rebels receive govt. cash aid

PAGADIAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has released over P3 million in financial aid to 27 communist fighters who peacefully surrendered in Western Mindanao region.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr led the recent awarding of the aid to the former rebels. The financial assistance is part of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). 

Abalos said the surrender of the rebels makes all the hard work and toil of the government and its personnel on the ground to quash insurgency in the country all worth it. 

“We have saved another 27 of our fellow Filipinos from the perils of terrorism. Maligayang pagbabalik sa ating mga kababayan na niloko at sinamantala ng mga totoong kalaban ng bansa. Hangad namin na ang araw na ito ay ang simula ng inyong pamumuhay ng may kapayapaan,” Abalos said during the ceremony held at the Provincial Government Complex here. 

The ceremony was also attended by DILG Undersecretary Mario Iringan; DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil; and Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor Yu and security officials.

The previous Duterte administration institutionalized the E-CLIP Enhanced, a government program that aims to help communist rebels to restore their allegiance to the Philippine government.

Through this program, they can be reintegrated back to the community, be with their families, and start over with their new, normal lives. The financial benefits intended for their development include but are not limited to the following:

Reintegration assistance (P21,000); Firearms, explosives, and ammunition remuneration, Immediate assistance (P15,000); Livelihood assistance (P50,000); Livelihood materials and implements or employment assistance (P100,000.00); Access to government services; Medical assistance and Legal assistance; Housing; Modified conditional cash transfer and loan and market access; Alternative learning system; Psychosocial assistance; College tuition and stipend and Conditional transitional grant (P5,000). (Mindanao Examiner)