BAGUIO CITY – The Regional Task Force to end Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) reported that former members of the News Peoples Army (NPA) were able to benefit from the implementation of the various government assistance programs that paved the way for them to be integrated with the mainstream society after encountering difficulties while joining the insurgency movement.
Based on the data obtained from the RTF-ELCAC, some 130 former rebels were provided assistance amounting to P614,650 under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICs), Community -based Services Section Sectoral Program and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
For the Department of the Interior and Local government-administered assistance package of assistance, some 5 former rebels were provided around P2.7 million in immediate assistance in the form of firearms renumeration, livelihood and re-integration assistance.
A group of former rebels in Kalinga received some P2.3 million for surrendering some 20 assorted firearms where 3 are still being evaluated because it is not in the list of the DILG and Philippine National Police (PNP).
Some 334 beneficiaries received livelihood kits, tools, pigs, equipment and raw materials amounting to P11.28 million which they used to established their economic activities and sources of livelihood.
The RTF-ELCAC stated that the gains of the task force directly and indirectly benefitted the Cordillerans which helped them be resistant to violence and the upliftment of law and order in the region.
It pointed out that engagement with the grassroots had been an effective strategy to somehow curb the recruitment in the vulnerable sectors.
The RTF-ELCAC claimed that as more and more communities are being capacity and informed of the atrocities of the insurgency movement, the fight against insurgency is nearing its end. By Dexter A. See
