Surrender of guerilla fighters in NegOcc ‘big blow’ to CPP-NPA

BACOLOD CITY — The surrender of 25 former guerilla fighters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros Occidental is a “big blow” to the rebel movement, a top official of the Philippine Army said.

Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said in a statement on Tuesday the mass abandonment strongly indicates the continued downfall of the CPP-NPA.

“The surrender of the 25 will surely weaken the strength and armed capability of the communist terrorists in Negros Island,” he added.

On March 2, the former NPA fighters yielded to military and police authorities in a ceremony held at the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) headquarters in Barangay Bato, Sagay City.

The 25 former fighters of the New People’s Army in Negros Occidental take an oath of allegiance to the Philippine government after they surrendered to officials of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police in Sagay City last March 2.
*Photo courtesy of 79^th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army*

The 25 surrenderers, who were formerly operating in the boundaries of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto towns and San Carlos City, turned themselves in after months of localized peace negotiations.

Dolina said they expect more surrenderers as former rebels and supporters express their disappointment and realize that the NPA has become more of terrorist group than a people’s army that it claims to be.

“It will create drastic demoralization among the remaining members of the communist terrorist group that will certainly encourage them to surrender,” he added.

Dolina appealed anew to the remaining members of the CPP-NPA to abandon the armed struggle, return to the fold of the law, and avail of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

The program entitles a former rebel to receive immediate assistance of PHP15,000; livelihood assistance, PHP50,000; firearms remuneration, PHP12,000 to PHP500,000; half-way house assistance; PhilHealth enrolment and medical assistance; education assistance; housing assistance; legal assistance; and healing and reconciliation initiatives.

Last February 18, a total of 11 former rebels in Negros Occidental under the custody of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Civil-Military Operations Battalion received reintegration assistance worth PHP21,000 each from the Department of the Interior and Local Government before their enrolment to the E-CLIP. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063670

Gov’t reintegration prompts more rebels to surrender: Army

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is expecting more members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay and Negros to surrender.

Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said this could happen as the government shows sincerity to help the former rebels by providing an initial reintegration assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

“These E-CLIP beneficiaries are living proofs of the government’s sincerity in helping those who courageously abandoned the senseless and bloody armed struggle,” Dolina said in a statement on Wednesday.

He added the growing number of former rebels receiving assistance will encourage other NPA members to return to the fold of the law.

On Monday, 11 former rebels in Negros Occidental under the custody of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Civil-Military Operations Battalion received reintegration assistance worth PHP21,000 each from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

In Cuartero, Capiz, a former rebel who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities on January 29 received a financial assistance of PHP10,000 from the municipal government.

The reintegration assistance is a component benefit of the E-CLIP for former rebels.

The receiving unit — military, police, or local government unit — from where a rebel surrendered receives PHP21,000 in reintegration assistance as a support to defray the subsistence or meals costs of the former rebel while in custody as well as for incidental expenses such as securing birth certificate, identification card, and mobility expenses.

Once enrolled in the E-CLIP, a former rebel will also receive immediate assistance of PHP15,000; livelihood assistance, PHP50,000; firearms remuneration, PHP12,000 to PHP500,000; half-way house assistance; PhilHealth enrollment and medical assistance; education assistance; housing assistance; legal assistance; and healing and reconciliation initiatives.

The United States and the European Union have already declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062569

11 former rebels in NegOcc get P231-K reintegration aid

BACOLOD CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has provided a total of PHP231,000 in reintegration assistance to 11 former rebels in Negros Occidental.

The checks were released by the DILG-Negros Occidental headed by provincial director Carmelo Orbista to the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion, the units assisting the former rebels, in a meeting held at the agency’s office here Monday afternoon.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, said the amount will be utilized for the administrative expenses incurred by the Army units facilitating the enrollment of the former rebels to the government’s reintegration program.

DILG-Negros Occidental provincial director Carmelo Orbista (right) turns over to officials of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental headed by Col. Benedict Arevalo (2nd from right) the checks totaling PHP231,000 as reintegration assistance for 11 former rebels under the custody of two Army units in the province.
Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army

The beneficiaries are all former Red fighters who surrendered last year, he noted.

Of the 11, seven are in the custody of the 62nd Battalion while four are with the 3rd CMO Battalion. A fund of PHP21,000 has been allocated for the expenses of each former rebel.

The reintegration assistance is support to help defray the board and lodging and other incidental expenses of former rebels in the custody of a receiving unit.

Arevalo said the Army is highlighting the provision of the reintegration assistance by the DILG to show the sincerity of the government in accepting former rebels who want to return to the fold of the law.

The DILG is the leading agency in the implementation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the National Reintegration Program for Former Rebels, which facilitates the mainstreaming of former New People’s Army rebels and Militia ng Bayan as productive citizens.

Under the program, a former rebel gets an immediate assistance of PHP15,000 for mobilization expenses, livelihood assistance of PHP50,000, skills training, shelter and legal assistance, among others, as well as compensation and remuneration for all turned-in firearms. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062230