DAVAO CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) – Davao Region remains to be relatively peaceful since its declaration as insurgency-free last October 27. 

According to Captain Mark Anthony Tito, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, since that time, no sightings and zero violent incident have been noted by the Philippine Army anywhere in Davao Region.

He also bared that Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, chair of the Task Force: Balik Loob of the Department of National Defense came to visit the Army Division in the area and was updated on the number of rebels that surrendered within the year, particularly the beneficiaries of the E-Clip program.

Tito claimed the surrender of 3,009 former rebels to the government forces of which 1,885 were former regular members of the New People’s Army while 1,124 were members of the milisyang-bayan.

“Out of the 3,009 surrenderees, 1,536 have already received immediate cash-assistance relative to the E-clip like the firearm remuneration tantamount to 51 %, while 1,133 have already received livelihood assistance, “he said.

Tito revealed that not all surrenderees received financial remuneration from the government.

He said only the regular NPA members can receive financial assistance due to the firearms they surrendered to the government.

“Members of the milisyang-bayan only receive P15,000 immediate cash assistance and livelihood assistance from the local government where they belong,” Tito said.

He also revealed that the total number of firearms surrendered by the rebels since 2016 is 1,031 of which 437 handlers received firearm remuneration.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)