KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Two former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who surrendered on July 2 were provided with immediate cash assistance and remuneration for their surrendered firearms and ammunition.

The assistance, amounting to P20,000, is part of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) for the former rebels.

The two yielded to the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, 11th Special Forces Company, 5th Special Forces Battalion (5SFBN) and the Philippine National Police.

Cpt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, commanding officer of the 11th Special Forces Company, said the provincial joint AFP-PNP intelligence identified the two as members of Guerilla Front Musa (GF 73) Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) operating in the boundaries of South Cotabato, Saranggani and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Meanwhile, Mayor Keo Dayle Tuan said they will continue providing support to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Tuan said the local government of Tboli will strengthen its anti-insurgency initiatives to help maintain peace and order in the municipality.

“As the newly elected mayor, one of my priorities is on peace, order and security of our town because we would like more investors to come in and further develop our town as the premiere agricultural, ecological and cultural tourism destination in South Cotabato. Violence, terrorism and criminality has no place here in our tribal municipality,” Tuan said. (PIA XII)