ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade (303IBde) is calling on the more than 100 rebels of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay Island to return to the folds of the government.
Colonel Michael Samson, acting commander of the 303IBde, said the national government continues its two-pronged approach to persuade rebels to return to society and be with their families.
These are combat efforts, and livelihood program and financial assistance, or the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“These shall continue and we have prepared more. Kontani ang aton mga kasimanwa who chose to join the armed struggle would prefer nga magbalik and embrace the mainstream society,” said Samson after the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) 1st Quarter Meeting.
Samson also said there are more than 100 CPP-NPA members in Panay Island. But the number is fluctuating because some members are active at times, and there are also times when rebels lay low after aggressive combat operations.
During the PPOC and PADAC meeting, a former rebel from Igbaras town was granted E-CLIP.
The former rebel received the Department of Interior and Local Government-administered package amounting to P65,000 (15,000 as immediate assistance and P50,000 as livelihood assistance)./PN
