Gov’t offers more cash to ex-rebels

TACLOBAN CITY—The government is offering more cash to convince members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Leyte to surrender.

Col. Joel Nacnac, head of the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Kananga town, said the surrenderors would receive another P60,000, on top of the P32,000 incentive for turning over their M-16, M-14 and other high-powered firearms to the military.

The money would come from the funds of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, which is based in Ormoc City and headed by Col. Rafael Valencia.

Nacnac said the returnees would also receive P10,000 basic assistance from the Department of National Defense and P50,000 livelihood assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process. Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas