21 former rebels in Agusan Norte receive P1.78-M aid under E-CLIP
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The government continues to intensify its whole-of-nation peace and development campaign as 21 former rebels (FRs) in Agusan del Norte received more than P1.78 million in government assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The financial assistance was distributed during the recent Agusan del Norte Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting led by Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, highlighting the government’s strengthened reintegration and localized peacebuilding efforts aimed at ending decades-long communist insurgency in the countryside.
The beneficiaries, comprising former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and Militia ng Bayan under the 23rd Infantry Battalion, 29th Infantry Battalion, Regional Intelligence Division, and Regional Intelligence Unit, received immediate cash aid, livelihood support, reintegration assistance, and firearms remuneration, based on eligibility.
The provincial government also distributed assorted goods, while the Department of Health provided sleeping kits containing mats and blankets to assist the returnees as they rebuild their lives and reintegrate into mainstream society.
Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration, E-CLIP remains among the government’s flagship counterinsurgency and peacebuilding programs, anchored in the “whole-of-nation” approach that combines security operations with social services, livelihood opportunities, and community development interventions.
Included in the beneficiaries was ‘Boyong,’ a former NPA squad leader who joined the communist movement at age 17. He and his wife, also a former rebel, surrendered to government authorities on June 28, 2023, coinciding with his birthday, and turned over four high-powered firearms.
“Being with the government side gave us peace of living. I am thankful because now my family is benefiting from the assistance of the government,” Boyong said during an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Agusan del Norte.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Amante for supporting former rebels as they transitionin to normal civilian life. He said that his priority now is to provide a peaceful and stable future for his family, far from armed conflict.
Also, Gov. Amante called on local chief executives and security sectors to remain vigilant and proactive in sustaining peace gains in their respective communities.
“You should be on top of the situation in your area. We will work together as a team and sustain peace,” Amante said. “Let the people feel that they have a government. Know the situation of your constituents, prioritize what is important, and seriously address problems in your communities.”
DILG Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Ellen Vee P. Chua emphasized that stronger inter-agency collaboration remains critical in addressing insurgency and preventing former rebels from returning to armed struggle.
“This initiative reflects the strength of collaboration among government agencies. By working together, we can respond more effectively to the needs of our communities,” Chua said.
Buenavista Mayor Joselito T. Roble underscored the strategic role of former rebels in protecting communities and preserving local peace and order. “The FRs are our multipliers in maintaining peace in the municipality,” Roble said, noting that the local government continues to strengthen coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), barangay officials, and barangay ‘tanods’ or members of the peacekeeping action team to secure communities against threats and criminality.
The E-CLIP program continues to encourage members of communist terrorist groups to surrender and return to the fold of the law by providing them with financial assistance, livelihood opportunities, and reintegration support, transforming former rebels into partners of government in nation-building and development. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
