INTERIOR SECRETARY Benjamin Abalos praised the
peace efforts of the provincial government in Sulu and the security forces for
the sustained and successful surrender of Abu Sayyaf members and their
supporters.
|
Provincial government photos show Gov. Sakur Tan with DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos and Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr inspecting the weapons surrendered by Abu Sayyaf members during the formal presentation of 100 surrendered Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu. |
Abalos was recently in Sulu where he formally
received 100 Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered separately to authorities in
the province.
Governor Sakur Tan led security and municipal
officials in presenting the former Abu Sayyaf fighters to Abalos. Tan said the
support of the community and local government officials and the efforts of the
police and military led to the mass surrender.
He said those who surrendered were provided
livelihood assistance and financial support by the provincial and municipal
government, as well as by the police and military as part of the collective
peace efforts in the province.
The ceremony was attended by Police Lt. Gen.
Vicente Danao Jr., Army Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the Joint
Task Force – Sulu; Police Aj. Gen. Eden Ugale, Police Brig. Gen. Arthur
Cabalona, the regional director, among others.
Abalos said: “This is truly a historic day. Itong araw na ito ang
simula ng inyong bagong buhay, kayo ay may pagkakataon na muling maging
produktibong kabahagi ng bansa. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako na kayo'y naniwala at
nagtiwala sa pangako ng pagbabago ng ating gobyerno. Kayo man ay sandaling naligaw
ng landas, masaya ako na kayo’y nagbalik hindi lang para sa inyong sarili kung
hindi para sa ating kabataan.”
Those who surrendered were from
the towns of Indanan, Omar, Maimbung,
Panamao, Talipao, and Patikul. They also handed over 22 assorted weapons.
Abalos said the former terrorists
will be enrolled in the government’s
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and shall receive additional
financial and livelihood assistance.
Under the E-CLIP grant, qualified
beneficiaries are entitled to guaranteed safety and security; cash assistance
P50,000 livelihood assistance; P15,000 for mobilization expenses; and firearms
remuneration amounting to the value of surrendered weapons.
E-CLIP is a government flagship
program that aims to help former rebels live a normal life with their loved
ones. “Through this program, the E-CLIP aims to address the root cause of the
country’s problem on terrorism. We will make sure, na uunlad ang agrikultura at
turismo ng Sulu. We will make sure that our children will live in a good,
better, and brighter future,” Abalos said. (Mindanao Examiner)
No comments:
Post a Comment