TABUK CITY, Kalinga – After knowing of the government’s programs for rebels who want to change their lives and again embrace the law, another member of the New Peoples Army surrendered to the Philippine Army (PA) on Monday, the 5st Infantry Division (5ID) relayed to the media on Tuesday evening.
Lt. Colonel Martin Daiz Jr, Commanding Officer of the 50th Infantry Battalion (50IB) based in Pinukpuk town, this province relayed that Noel Omang, also known as “Incha”, 22 years old, single and a resident of Barangay Bagumbayan, here.
Daiz said that the rebel was an active member of the third squad of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG)Baggas of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC), specifically in Kalinga province, for over four years now.
Captain Jeffrey Somera, head of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) in a telephone interview who provided the details of the surrender, said Omang voluntarily surrendered to the 50IB commander in the morning of January 8.
Somera relayed that Omang learned of the government’s program to help former rebels have peaceful lives by returning to the fold of the law from his family.
He said the information campaigns conducted by personnel of the 50IB in the area about the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP), encouraged Omang to avail of it and be able to live with his family again.
CLIP is the government’s initiative through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which is done in collaboration with the concerned local government units and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The army officers assured that they will provide all the assistance to Omang in processing the benefits intended for the latter under the CLIP.
Somera also relayed BGen Perfecto Rimando Jr, 5ID Commander statement that the influx of surrenderers from the communist terrorist rebel of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera is a clear manifestation that the government’s message of peace is already penetrating the ranks of the terrorist group.
With the help of the community who are now providing information about the existence of terrorist threat groups, the government troops reiterated their encouragement to the remaining rebels to lay down their arms and abandon their unworthy arm struggle against the government and actively participate in the development programs of the communities.
