Thirteen former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) formalized their return to the fold of law as they took their “Oath of Allegiance” en masse on Tuesday at ceremonies held at the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Southern Tagalog in Tanauan City, Batangas.
During the ceremonies, the former rebels were officially enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the government’s holistic inter-agency approach and peaceful initiative to end insurgency.
Under this program, the rebels who are now back to normal lives and immersed anew in mainstream society are afforded various grants and compensations to start life anew and become responsible members of the society.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año officiated in the mass oath-taking of the rebel surrenderers symbolizing recognition of the Philippine government’s authority.
The surrendered rebels also officially turned-over their firearms to Department of National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana along with top military commanders in a gesture and manifestation of their desire to live a peaceful life and abandon their armed struggle.
At the ceremony, the identities of the 13 rebel-surrenderers were withheld as they wore bonnets and caps for security reasons as they took their oath and presented four high powered (M16 and AK-47) firearms and six low powered (caliber .45 & .38) revolvers.
Presidential Adviser for Southern Tagalog Secretary Dennis Hernandez, assisted by Batangas government officials also handed over to each rebel surrenderer a cheque worth PHP 65,000 for immediate livelihood assistance from the government and gesture of peace-loving Filipinos.
Officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Housing Authority (NHA), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) were on hand to discuss and directly coordinate the release of benefits and government projects intended for the 13 surrendered rebels.
Military officials said 10 of the 13 NPAs who surrendered were members of Platoon Jupiter; two were from Platoon Galaxy both of Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA) 4C, Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) operating in Batangas and Cavite; and one from the Tarlac- Zambales Guerilla Front.
In his testimony, one of the surrenderers said he has been fighting the government forces for almost 21 years, but felt frustrated because “nothing happened to our cause.”
“It was two decades wasted in time and opportunities. A lot of our comrades lost their lives in fighting and we also lost some of our families,” the top NPA official who surrendered lamented.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos Jr, Commander of the 202nd Infantry (UNIFIER) Brigade which has operational jurisdiction over the Calabarzon Region described the turnover and oath-taking event as “sending an underlying message that the insurgency in Batangas is now on the verge of collapse.”
“This is the result of the close coordination and collaboration between and among the security sector, government agencies, business entities, local government units and the general public,” Burgos added.
Major General Rhoderick M. Parayno, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division (2ID) said the event was the result of the 2ID’s localized peace talks with the NPA Communists terrorist group in the region, citing “in fact seven of these NPAs have just surrendered in Mindoro only this weekend.”
Parayno also commended the 730th Combat Group (730th CG), Philippine Air Force under Major Engelberto A. Nioda Jr, its Group Commander for being instrumental and their laudable efforts for the surrender of the NPA terrorist group members in Batangas.
“We are expecting more NPAs to surrender in Laguna and Quezon within the next few weeks. We will sustain the local peace talks with the NPA rebels because it is more realistic and has a very good chance of success since issues are addressed and resolved immediately,” Parayno added.
The ceremony also signalled the launching and maiden implementation of the national government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) in Southern Luzon where various cash grants are provided to qualified rebel surrenderers.
These benefits include PHP15,000 immediate cash assistance; PHP50,000 livelihood assistance, access to housing, and firearms remuneration, medical assistance, access to loans, legal assistance among other forms of assistance. (PNA)
