The surrendered firearms. Contributed photo
FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City – Three alleged guerilla leaders in Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces have surrendered to the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion on Saturday.
The rebels who reportedly belonged to the New People’s Army Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre also surrendered three M-16 rifles, according to the 7th Infantry Division public affairs office.
The government immediately started the process of enrolling the three to the enhanced comprehensive local integration program (ECLIP), an economic support program for surrendering rebels, the military said.
Under ECLIP they will be receiving P15,000 initial assistance, P50,000 livelihood assistance, and P50,000firearms remuneration. In addition, they will also be receiving benefits from other government agencies, like skills training from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, legal assistance from the Department of Justice, and housing from the National Housing Authority, among others.
Major Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., 7ID commander, described the surrender as “a better option.”
“This is what we are working on, to invite the NPA members to return to the fold of the law and be with their families, instead of fighting in combat and kill each other. This option is better, for after all, we are all Filipinos,” Rosario said.
He also hailed the units involved in the accomplishment and took notice also of the good rapport between 91st IB and its PNP counterparts in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora.
Col. Andrew Costelo, commander of 703rd Infantry Brigade that directly supervises 91IB said, “I commend 91IB for its accomplishment and also for the help provided by our PNP counterparts in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces.”
