Roi Anthoni B.
Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 24 (PIA) – Four members of the New People’s
Army (NPA) who recently surrendered to the Philippine Army (PA) will receive
livelihood assistance from the government.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo recently met with the former
rebels in his office at the provincial Capitol. They were escorted by the
officers of the Philippine Army.
Gov. Degamo said these former rebels, whose identities are witheld
for their security will undergo the procedures of the Comprehensive Local
Integration Program (CLIP) so they can avail of the government’s livelihood
assistance.
The four former rebels include a male, a female and a married
couple.
According to Col. Allan Martin, Brigade Commander of the 302nd
Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army in Negros Oriental, the former
rebels will temporarily stay at the 79th IB Headquarters in Siaton town while
their reintegration to the mainstream society are being processed.
Gov. Degamo considers this a welcome development to the
government’s peace initiatives.
One reason that former rebels abandon armed struggle is that they
see government programs carried out in the hinterlands that benefit residents
of these areas, Gov. Degamo explained.
“Using guns is not the way to address the call for peace but
through the bringing of exact programs in the hinterlands,” he stressed.
Col. Martin added that the former rebels surrendered
because they saw how the government is sincere in the conduct of the programs
and in bringing basic services to far flung areas of the province.
With these, the two official hopes that more rebels will be
convinced to abandon armed struggle and return to the mainstream society.
(mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)