BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 16 (PIA) --The army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade has called on the remaining New People’s Army forces in Negros Oriental to surrender peacefully and leave the armed struggle.
With the army’s continuous Bayanihan and combat operations as counterinsurgency plan, deputy commander Col Christopher Estella of 302nd Infantry Brigade said the New People’s Army forces has reduced and weakened in the province.
Col. Estella said the internal peace and security plan of the military focuses on winning the peace and development of the province through the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’.
Meantime, the government offers livelihood assistance worth P65,000 for those rebels who will return to the mainstream society under the Comprehensive Local Integration Programs (CLIP) of the DILG and OPAPP.
Another separate cash assistance and job opportunity for former rebels will be given from the provincial government of Negros Oriental, the military official said.
The rebel returnees may also avail of the skills training seminar for their livelihood to start a new life for a brighter future ahead for their families, the AFP said.
Another program of the army, Guns for Peace offers monetary reward to NPA members that turn-over firearms to the government.
The seed money is intended for rebels to start a new life while transitioning back to the community.
The military said, allocated for the former rebels are cash incentives as high as P200,000 for light machine guns, P50,000 for COLT M16 rifle, P60,000 for M14 rifle and P40,000.00 for M203 Grenade Launchers.
The army targets the province to be insurgency-free by end of this year. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-NegOr/ with reports from Mitchiko Bitoon, intern)