BALER, Aurora — A total of three leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Aurora returned to the folds of government Saturday.
The returnees, who are key officials of the Komiteng Larangan Gerilya Sierra Madre (KLGSM), surrendered with their high-powered firearms to elements of Army 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) and police forces from Nueva Ecija and Aurora in a secluded area in barangay San Isidro, San Luis town.
The firearms handed over include two M16 5.56mm rifles and one M653 5.56mm Rifle or baby armalite.
703rd Infantry Brigade Commander Colonel Andrew Costelo said those who surrendered are now being interviewed in an undisclosed area for the processing of their benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government.
“They will be receiving under E-CLIP PhP15,000 initial assistance, PhP50,000 livelihood assistance and PhP50,000 firearms remuneration,” Costelo disclosed.
Other benefits include skills training from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, legal assistance from Department of Justice and housing from National Housing Authority.
The surrender of the three leaders is a big blow to the NPA’s KLGSM as it is still reeling from the neutralization of its ranking officials in 2019.
“This is what we are working, to invite the NPA members to return to the folds of the law and be with their families instead of fighting in combat and kill each other. This option is better, for after all, we are all Filipinos,” 7th Infantry Division Commander Major General Alfredo Rosario Jr. said.
He also congratulated the units involved in the accomplishment and took notice of the good rapport between 91IB and its police counterparts in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora.