MANILA — Major Gen. Ricardo Visaya, 4th Infantry Division commander, said that 81 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels will formally surrender in Agusan Del Sur by this week.
“We in the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, in partnership with other government stakeholders are committing ourselves for all NPA rebels who want to return to the folds of the law and live a normal life,” he added.
“We continue to open our communication lines to all the families of the NPA members who want to abandon the NPA armed movement,” Visaya pointed out.
The 4th Infantry Division commander said former rebels will join the more the 107 former guerillas who have already surrendered to various Army units in Mindanao.
Lt. Col. Jose Leonard Gille, 4th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the 107 former rebels yielded under “Pagbabalik-Loob I” and “Pagbabalik-Loob II” programs of their unit.
They turned over at least 108 assorted firearms.Gille said that aside from the P3.358 million that was given to the former rebels in exchange of the firearms that they have yielded, the government would also give them additional support needed for them to live normal lives.
Support would include an initial cash assistance of P15,000 and P50,000 livelihood assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
For those who are skilled farmers, they will be given the opportunity to farm in a one-hectare coffee plantation that was allotted by the Department of National Defense and Nestle Corporation.