17 former rebels get 65K financial assistance in N. Cotabato

By 19th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
February 15, 2019

AMAS, Kidapawan City – Seventeen former rebels who surrendered to the Army here received P65,000 each from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

The distribution of checks was done during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting at Cotabato Provincial Capitol with 901st Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Larry Mojica and other Army field commanders, DILG Provincial Director Ali Abdula and Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza.

Colonel Ehrlich Noel Paraso, Commanding Officer of 19th Infantry Battalion (19IB) based in Arakan, Cotabato said that 13 of the 17 were formerly regular members of the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) who surrendered to 19IB troops.

“These are the first batch of Indigenous Peoples (IP) rebels who surrendered amidst our intensified combat operations in Arakan Valley Complex last year. The former rebels were compelled to return to the folds of law due to infighting and corruption within the NPA organization”, Paraso explained.

“I did not expect that all of this financial assistance will be given to me. This is truly a big help to my family”, said Alias Omar, one of the beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries received P65,000 each or P15,000 as immediate assistance and P50,000 as livelihood grant.

Paraso also confirmed that the financial assistance for “Alias Jimboy”, one of the beneficiaries, who was killed by the NPA, was already received by his kin.