THE government, through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip), has provided financial aid to 71 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Misamis Occidental, an official said Saturday, November 17.
Colonel Bagnus Gaerlan, Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana led the distribution of checks in a ceremony held Saturday at the province capitol in Oroquieta City.
Gaerlan said that 69 of the 71 beneficiaries are former NPA rebels while the remaining two are “Yunit Militia” members.
He said each of the former rebels received P65,000 in check while the remaining two received P15,000 in check.
Misamis Occidental Governor Herminia Ramiro said the E-Clip have changed the lives of the former NPA rebels and helped decrease the number of rebels in the province.
Lorenzana said the E-Clip through the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte is complete, where convergence of government units and agencies to serve the former rebels is being implemented.
The E-Clip seeks to contribute towards achieving the goal of permanent and peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups.
Major General Roseller Murillo, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, has thanked Ramiro and the stakeholders of Misamis Occidental for being active in implementing the E-Clip. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)