CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- A new and better life awaits two former rebels who received cash assistance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the provincial government of Pampanga.

The aid is part of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) wherein returnees and their families are given a wide array of benefits to help them start anew as they are reintegrated to mainstream society. 

Ka Jai (not her real name) narrated the struggles she faced as a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA). She also thanked the government for the various assistance she received which helped her return to the folds of the law. 

"We are very grateful to DILG and the provincial government of Pampanga who were always there to assist us from the time we surrendered our firearms to the processing of the benefits that the government has provided for us. We also have families and they are our priority now. That is the reason why we surrendered because we realize that our families are more important than the ideologies we are fighting for," Ka Jai said in Filipino. 

The former rebels were given a total of P132,867 as remuneration for the firearms they surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2021. 

In a statement, DILG Pampanga Provincial Director Myra Moral-Soriano lauded the two former rebels for their courage to leave the NPA.

She encouraged them to share their story to their former comrades so that they, too, will be inspired to return to the fold of the law. 

“We are happy that you surrender to the government. I hope you can use this aid as you start a new life and may you never be encouraged to return to your old group. This aid is from the taxpayers so please use this for something worthwhile,” she added.

Also present during the activity were representatives from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, AFP and PNP. 

Since the implementation of E-CLIP, national government agencies have worked closely to ensure that former rebels are fully reintegrated back into society and that they and their families have access to different services such as scholarships, training and employment. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)