63 former NPA rebels

pledge gov’t allegiance

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct 18 (PIA) –Sixty-three former rebel members of the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) National Democratic Front (NDF) surrender and pledge their allegiance to the country, before members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), in a meeting October 18.

Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado who presided over the emotional ceremony, thanked the former rebels for trusting in the Administration’s call to peace.

Communist NPA terrorists reigned over Bohol in the late 80s, until then Governor Erico Aumentado set up a poverty reduction program that addressed the insurgency problem.

In February of 2010, no less than the Department of National Defense declared Bohol insurgency-free and has remained such, despite the presence of the remnants of the disbanded Bohol Area Committee.

With a cracking voice, the governor, who sent out emissaries to the remnants of the terror groups in Bohol to deliver the message of reconciliation, said he is saddened because those who died in the recent September 7, 2023 encounter with government troops could have been with the surrendering group.

Government troops, acting on reports of the presence of armed men in Campagao Bilar, clashed with the armed rebels, leaving six communists dead, with no casualties from the government side.

Aumentado, who during his assumption as governor told Boholanos that he is stepping on the shadows of his father, whom many would consider a political legend who solved the local insurgency by tracing its roots: poverty.

The surrender, the biggest group processed after the government set up Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), is also historically the most number since the decades-old armed struggle started.

It was also during the early years of then Congressman Erico Aumentado personally went up the mountains and caused the surrender of over 20 rebels in the late 1980s.

The surrendering group, some of the active and armed members of the NPAs, was also joined by self-confessed members of front organizations leading rallies and street demonstrations in Bohol in the early 2000.

These include officials and members of Bol-anong Artista sa may Diwang Dagohoy (BANSIWAG), Bol-anong Kahugpungan ng Kilusang Nangingisda, (BOKANA), Sandigan sa Bol-anong Kababayen-ang Naguma ug Nanagat (SABAKAN), Hugpong sa mga Mag-uumang Bol-anon (HUMABOL), Talibon, Trinidad farmers Association (TTFA), Kabatan-onan Para sa Kalambuan sa Nasud, and Alayon sa Mag-uumang Candijaynon (AMACAN).

As an initial assistance and gesture of goodwill, the governor announced the special provincial government emergency assistance of P10,000 for every surrenderee, now enrolled in the Kanhi Rebelde, Kauban sa Reporma Program.

As still active beyond the deadline for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration program (ECLIP) availment, these new surrenderees are now enrolled in a local ECLIP called Kauban sa Reporma program. (PIAbohol)

Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado welcomed the former rebels now in to be enrolled under the Kauban sa Reporma Program, a local adaptation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, funded by the Provincial Government. Returnees can get about P40K emergency assistance from the provincial government, legal and psychological assistance following the whole of government convergence approach in the former rebel’s reintegration. (PIABohol)

KAUBAN SA REPORMA. From kanhi rebelde, now, these surrendered militia are now eligible to get a local assistance program after their surrender is beyond the deadline set for the ECLIP. They swore allegiance to the country before the PPOC in Bohol during its Oct 18 meeting. (PIAbohol)