Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’ C. Abalos, Jr. today welcomed into the fold of the law 27 former rebels (FRs) who laid down their arms in Pagadian City and awarded them with some P3.06-million financial assistance through the DILG-administered Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Abalos said the surrender of the 27 FRs 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.
“Today, 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 in the ceremony held at the Provincial Government Complex in Pagadian City.
Of the 27 FRs who were also addressed as Friends Rescued in Zamboanga Peninsula, 17 are from Zamboanga del Norte, 4 from Zamboanga Sibugay and 6 from Zamboanga del Sur. This brings the total number of FRs eho surrendered to adding to 8,889 as of July 31, 2022 since E-CLIP started.
The 27 FRs pledged their allegiance to the Philippine government during the event, an indication of a life of peace for these FRs in the region.
Further, a total of 72 turned-in firearms were presented for demilitarization.
Accompanying the SILG were Undersecretary for Local Government Mario L. Iringan; DILG IX Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil; Philippine National Police – Police Regional Office (PNP-PRO) IX PBGEN Franco P. Simborio; Philippine Army 1st Infantry Division Commander BGEN Antonio G. Nafarrete; 102nd IB, Brigade Commander BGEN Leonel Nicolas, and Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor J. Yu.
E-CLIP is a peacebuilding and social protection program for FRs and Former Violent Extremists (FVEs) who have decided to abandon armed violence, return to the folds of the law, reintegrate to the mainstream society and become productive citizens.
Under E-CLIP, each former rebel receives P15,000 as immediate cash assistance, and P50,000 livelihood assistance as well as remuneration for every firearm they will bring along during their surrender.
One of the FRs, “Ms. Marbie R. Nano,” in her testimony during the program said, “Ang dami kong pinagsisihan kung bakit ako napabilang sa NPA. Sa hirap na aking naranasan, hiningi ko sa Panginoon na makabalik sa aking pamilya. Nagpapasalamat ako sa 53rd IB na kumuha sa amin at naging daan ng aking pagbabalik-loob.”
In response, Abalos expressed his gratitude to the FRs during the event for heeding the offer of peace by the government.
“Maraming salamat dahil kasama na namin kayo ngayon at tayo ay magkatuwang na sa pagpapanday ng bagong bukas para sa ating bayan. Hangad naming na magkaroon na ng tunay na kapayapaan at pagkakaisa sa ating bansa.”
He asked the FRs to convince their former comrades to turn their backs on terrorism, surrender and avail of the government’s E-CLIP assistance. He assured them that the government’s doors are open for those who are willing to cut their ties from the CPP-NPA-NDF and rejoin mainstream society.
“Kakampi ninyo ang gobyerno at handa kaming tulungan kayo sa inyong pagbabagong-buhay. Katulad ng sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., ‘Sama-sama tayong babangong muli,’” he said.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-welcomes-27-former-rebels-back-to-the-fold-of-law-in-Pagadian-City-awards-them-P3-M-E-CLIP-aid/NC-2022-1123