Almost 3,000 ex-rebels receive gov’t financial help — DILG

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 3,000 rebel-surrenderers received government’s financial assistance from July 2018 to November 2019, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) revealed Wednesday.

In a press conference, DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said 2,882 former rebels gained P171.6 million financial assistance package from the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

The E-CLIP is one of the main components of the inter-agency Task Force Balik Loob Program for members of the communist movement.

Malaya said most rebel surrenderers are from Region 11, Region 13 and Region 5. Specifically, 657 rebels surrendered in Region 11; 381 in Region 13; and 260 in Region 5.

Malaya clarified the government’s program for former rebels is not fabricated, noting that rebels need to undergo screening from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to avail of the assistance.

“The fact that there are rebel surrenderees, hindi nila pwedeng sabihin na yung mga taong ito ay gawa-gawa ng gobyerno. (They cannot say that this program is fake). For the weekly assistance, kailangan pumasa sa isang committee sa PNP (and) AFP (They need to pass at a committee of PNP and AFP),” Malaya said.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., AFP deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations, cited that recruitment of rebel groups usually occur in communities and schools. He added that members of the communist movement would recruit minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

Parlade also said rebel forces are still strong in Samar areas but more rebel members have surrendered in Eastern Mindanao, Bacolod, Negros islands and Bicol region.