CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—In line with President Marcos’ administration goal to continue the whole of nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict of the country, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 led by DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr, Philippine National Police (PNP)-10, holds the turnover of P13.8-M worth of assistance to 50 former rebels from Bukidnon.
took an oath of allegiance to the government led by the DILG chief while 182 firearms were destroyed to ensure that the surrendered firearms from the 50 former Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) members are not recycled. (VPSB/PIA-10)
The “Surrender of CTGs and Demilitarization of firearms” ceremony at Camp Alagar, here, August 3, aims not only to end insurgency but also to aid the former rebels and their families reintegrate to the mainstream society through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) in complementary to the government’s livelihood and skills training assistance.
“Wars cannot be won by arms alone. The most important weapon is the heart, and that is what we are offering this afternoon, the heart of a caring government so we can now focus on the economy para sama-sama na ang pag-unlad ng bansa,” Abalos shared.
In addition to the ECLIP assistance, the 50 former rebels took an oath of allegiance to the government led by the DILG chief while 182 firearms were destroyed to ensure that the surrendered firearms from the Fifty (50) former Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) members are not recycled.
“Ang mga dating kasapi CPP-NPA-NDF at Militia ng Bayan ay bukas po natin tinatanggap at tutulungan pati ang kanilang mga pamilya para magbagong buhay. Masasaksihan natin ang pagsisira ng mga baril– ang mga baril na ito ay simbolo ng hindi natin na pagkakaintindihan bilang Pilipino. Ito po ay simbolo ng karahasan, ng pagkakahiwalay. Sisirain natin ito at tutunawin natin upang ibalik sa simpleng bakal,” PNP Deputy Regional Director for Administration (DRDA) PBGen Ronaldo R Cabral disclosed.
(The former mebers of CPP-NPA-NDF and Militia ng Bayan are welcome and we will also help their families to have a new life. We will witness the destruction of firearms as these symbolize misunderstanding of Filipinos. These are symbols of cruelty, disunity. We will destroy and melt these so they can go back to being just a simple metal)
For their part, Bukidnon Provincial Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque, assured the former rebels that the provincial government of Bukidnon is committed to providing them with livelihood opportunities and training in addition to the ECLIP transition to their new lives. (VPSB/PIA-10)
