FOURTEEN former rebels received a total of P1,588,600 in government cash assistance during the awarding ceremony of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) in Camp Captain Domingo E. Leonor along San Pedro Street.
Capt John Louie Demaala, the civil-military operations officer of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, said the rebel returnees surrendered to the different Army units and the Davao city Police Office.
The ceremony was attended by Brig. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, commander of the 1003rd Brigade, Lt. Col. Juvenal Mark Tayamen, commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion; Lt. Col. Victorino Seño, commander of the 27th IB; Davao City police director, Col. Kirby John Kraft; Vicky Sarcena, Davao City director of the Department of Interior and Local Government; City Administrator Zulieka T. Lopez, and government officials.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in her message read by Lopez, said, “Everyone can change, I thank you for surrendering and you must use your resources well for the development of the family.”
Each of the beneficiaries received livelihood assistance amounting to P50,000 on top of the P15,000 immediate assistance. Some of them also received remuneration for the firearms they turned over to the government. The amount was based on the caliber and condition of the gun.
Mempin advised the beneficiaries to use the money wisely as he also urged the remaining rebels to surrender and resume their normal lives as civilians.
“The communism is a dying ideology and has only brought misery and sufferings to the country and people,” he added.
