TARLAC CITY — About 222 former rebels in Northern and Central Luzon received PhP15.9 million worth of financial assistance through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) last year.
In a conference presided by Defense Undersecretary and Task Force Balik-Loob Chairperson Reynaldo Mapagu, Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Commander Lieutenant General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the financial aid is on top of the pangkabuhayan package, educational scholarships, skills and development training, and housing assistance offered by other government agencies.
Under E-CLIP, rebel returnees and their families were given a wide array of benefits to help them start anew as they were reintegrated to mainstream society.
“NOLCOM recognizes the significant role of E-CLIP in weakening and eventually dismantling of the communist terrorist groups in our area of operation,” Burgos stressed.
He furthered that NOLCOM’s guiding principle of “continuous improvement, progressive change” motivates them to innovate towards the sustainable implementation of E-CLIP.
Also, Burgos expressed his optimism that more terrorists will surrender in the coming days.
“More terrorists will surrender due to the prevailing demoralization across their ranks brought about by the diminishing support of the community, as well as the lingering fear in their minds brought about by the neutralization of key personalities in their group,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mapagu lauded the steadfast commitment of NOLCOM to carry out the tasks of implementing E-CLIP and defeating the communist terrorists in their area of responsibility.
“We should not stop performing our duty, even if there is a problem besetting our country. We must do our share of good governance and use it as the basis of our approach in defeating the communist terrorists in this part of the country,” he stated.