The Himamaylan City government in Negros Occidental gave P80,000 in cash assistance to eight former rebels on Wednesday, August 3, the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade reported.
The Himamaylan City Social Welfare Development Office together with the police and military officials turnover P10,000 to each of the former rebels in a ceremony at the Himamaylan City Government Center.
Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 303rd Brigade, Capt. Mervin Rosal, said that the eight former rebels had surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion and the Himamaylan police.
The former rebels also received food packs and personal hygiene kits from the local government and City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that he hopes that with the cash assistance received by the former rebels, more active members of the New People’s Army will avail of the many benefits programmed for them upon their surrender.
“Approach us, lay down your arms, return to the folds of the law, and avail of the Government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), live a normal, peaceful, and more fulfilled life”, he said.
“A senseless cause and struggle that you are in today will do no good for your family, especially to the future of your children”, he asded.*