Kauban sa Reporma Program

19 KRs earn P30K local funds

As their livelihood assistance

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 11 (PIA)—While former local rebels who recently surfaced and surrendered expect to get the complete package of assistance which the government’s enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program promised, in Bohol, the local government has institutionalized a local system that still allows disqualified former rebels to earn some assistance.

In fact, at the 15th Anniversary of Bohol Peace Day; or the day when Bohol was declared by government authorities as insurgency free February 11, 19 families of local rebel returnees or Kanhi Rebelde (KR) now Kauban sa Reporma (Reform Partners) get P30,000 in livelihood assistance from the Provincial Government, to help them ease back into the mainstream and improve their economic well-being.

The 19 family beneficiaries are members of the Bohol Kauban sa Reforma Foundation, are among the 462 former active rebels and Militia ng Bayan who have voluntarily abandoned their violent extremist activities to become productive members of the society.

While several of the 462 former rebels who surrendered have availed of the E-CLIP assistance package after passing the standard Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) verification and confirmation as in the Periodic Status Report or formerly the Order of Battle, some were not in the list.

Earlier, Bohol local authorities have asked rebels to simply lay down their arms and voluntarily surrender, as the local government dangles livelihood, educational, and legal assistance to those who may have arrest warrants.

With the eventual losing ground of the communist extremism, the slow dissolution of the rebel fronts, the continued military offensives and the eventual neutralization of the core group of armed rebels led by Domingo Compoc in Campagao, Bilar last year, local rebels returned to their homes and surfaced to surrender.

Carmelita Tecson, Provincial Social Welfare and Development said that the rebel surrenderees who have established contact with authorities are then organized into 15 clusters, which include Balilihan, Inabanga, Sagbayan/Catigbian, San Pascual in Ubay, Tuboran in Ubay, Bilar, Candijay, Danao, Sevilla, Trinidad, Antequera, Alicia, Batuan, Carmen, and Los Angeles in Ubay.

Some members of these clusters have availed of the E-CLIP, while some are still validated by the JAPIC, to determine if they too can be given the package of assistance.

The turnover of a total of P570K for the 19 beneficiary families are just for the local livelihood assistance, one of the offers included in the localized reintegration support institutionalized by the Kauban sa Reporma Program, sums up Romeo Teruel, executive assistant and Bohol ELCAC coordinator.

The integration support also includes funds as remuneration for surrendered fire-arms and explosives, subversive documents, equipment and even vehicles used in the armed struggle.

At the Peace Day’s Kauban sa Reporma Congress February11, with the theme; “Kauban sa Reporma sa Malahutayong Kahapsay ug Kalinaw," and marking the 15 years since Bohol was officially declared an insurgency-free province, National Task Force ELCAC Executive Director and retired Lieutenant General Ernesto Torres Jr., hailed Bohol ofr its continuing efforts to sustain the peace.

Torres, whose defense thesis he presented in a US Defense College was the Bohol Experience, said he was so proud of Bohol which was able to beat insurgency through convergence of efforts in poverty reduction, job generation and active vigilance of communities.

For his part, Governor Aumentado expressed his gratitude to all attendees for commemorating this milestone.

He emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in maintaining peace in the province, stating, "Kung kita masinabtanon, naglantaw sa kaugmaon sa probinsya, sa atong nasod, bisan dili kita perpekto, pero kita magtinabangay, magkasinabot sa gihapon, magpabilin ang kalinaw, mga kaigsoonan." (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

LIVELIHOOD CAPITAL. Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado handed over the P500K symbolic cheque to the 19 local KRs who passed the screening to benefit from the local reintegration support fund. With the governor are NAC Chair Atty Leah Armamento (blue skirt white hair), NTF ELCAC Exec Dir Usec Ernesto Torres (Behind Aumentado), PNP Bohol Director Arnel Banzon, and 47IB Commanding Officer Col Magno Mapalad. (PIABohol)