Bigger aid awaits rebel yielding with firearms

JARO, LEYTE, Philippines — The leadership of the Army’s 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion declared that additional P32,000 from the 802nd Infantry Brigade will be received by an active member of the New Peoples Army who surrenders with firearms.

This would raise the amount of aid an NPA rebel who surrenders with high powered firearms receives, from P60,000 to P92,000.

The P60,000 aid consists of P10,000 in basic immediate assistance (BIA) and P50,000 livelihood assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. The 802nd IBde would add P32,000 to the amount.

This matter was announced by Lt. Col. Joel Alejandro Nacnac, commander of the 19th IB, during the awarding of livelihood assistance to 17 former rebels in ceremonies held at Brgy. Canjandugan of this town last Friday (Nov. 16).

Instead of setting bounty to hasten the capture of NPA members, the 19th IB with its Bayanihan Teams is now focused on encouraging rebels in Leyte to surrender.

As of press time, the military is still negotiating the surrender of some active NPA members in the this town of Leyte.

“Now is the time for the other active NPA members to lay down their arms and return to the folds of law because the government seeks nothing but to see NPA members rejoining their family and the community,” Nacnac said. — (FREEMAN)