DILG Doles Out Over P800-K to Ex-Rebels in Central Visayas

The Department of the Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas (DILG-7) has given more than PHP800,000 worth of financial assistance to rebel returnees in the region.

Deanna Alila, Local Government Operations Officer IV of the Monitoring and Evaluation Division, said Tuesday that the DILG has provided a total of PHP600,000 financial aid to some 30 former rebels in Bohol and PHP65,000 each to four surrenderers in Negros Oriental.

Alila said the 34 former rebels surrendered last year and received financial benefits from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Some 20 inactive members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front/New People’s Army (CPP/NDF/NPA) in Bohol have also recently expressed their intention to surrender and avail of the E-CLIP benefits, she said.

“The government is ready to provide benefits and financial assistance to CPP/NDF/NPA members if they are truly sincere in their desire to come back to the folds of the law,” said Alila during the regular Association of Government Information Officers-Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA) in Region 7 forum.

“They are very much welcome. We still have available funds for them to start their livelihood. We will also provide them a halfway home where they could temporarily reside,” she added.

Task Force Cebu commander Col. Noel Baluyan, of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, who also attended the AGIO-PIA 7 forum, said the 20 rebels in Bohol have lain low in their struggle and recently sent feelers to formally surrender.

“Most of them are farmers who have been manipulated and brainwashed by the CPP/NPA. They have been easily swayed by the rebel groups who are very good propagandists,” Baluyan said.

The CPP/NDF/NPA prey on the poor farmers because of the latter’s ignorance or lack of knowledge in the government’s anti-poverty and land reform programs, he said.

As the CPP/NPA are “very good at muddling the issues,” Baluyan said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also intensifying its re-integration awareness campaign in the provinces and at the same time help disseminate information on the different programs of the Duterte Administration. (PNA)