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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Friday, November 20, 2015

Gov't gives cash aid to 9 ex-rebels in Albay

By Sally Atento-Altea

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 19 (PIA) –The government has awarded P585,000 in livelihood assistance to nine rebel returnees and their families living in Albay.

The former members of New People’s Army received P65,000 each during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade (IB) in Daraga, Albay on Nov. 9.

Brig. Gen. Ignacio A. Obligacion, 9th Infantry Division assistant commander, led the distribution of the checks to the rebel returnees under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Obligacion welcomed the rebel returnees back to society, urging them to “start living a normal life together with their families.”

“We, in the 9th Infantry Division, are very glad to welcome and assist rebels who have finally decided to lay down their arms and seek the assistance of the government,” Obligacion said.

“We know that they had difficult life while in the mountains as they were exploited to fight against the government. It is about time for them to give up their arms, embrace the government and start living a normal life together with their families,” he added.

A committee made up of various agencies and headed by Albay Governor Joey Salceda would advice the CLIP beneficiaries in investing the livelihood financing given to them by the government so as to help them find more sustainable sources of income.

Additional training and support such as health insurance and scholarships will also be accorded them and their dependents.

CLIP focuses on the integration of members of the NPA, Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front, who decide to abandon armed struggle and rejoin mainstream society.

Under CLIP, rebels who surrender to the government with their firearms are given monetary assistance of P15,000 and livelihood assistance of P50,000.

Implementation of CLIP is based on Joint Memorandum Circular dated May 15, 2014, between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Col. Claudio Yucot, 901st IB commander, disclosed that 10 more rebels had surrendered to the government forces and will be given government assistance after the evaluation being undertaken by the CLIP committee.

“CLIP offers a great opportunity for our long lost brothers to start a new life with a positive future ahead for their families. It is a chance for them to pursue the right path and be part of building a better community to attain the desired lasting peace in Albay,” Yucot said. (EAD/SAA/PIA5-Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2571447833559/gov-t-gives-cash-aid-to-9-ex-rebels-in-albay#sthash.fHNd6hkC.dpuf

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