Date Released: 14 July 2020 Releasing Officer: DIR. ARSENIO R. ANDOLONG Chief, Public Affairs Service

11 Former Rebels from Southern Tagalog receive E-CLIP Benefits

A new life awaits 11 former rebels (FRs), who were presented with benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) at the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) in Camp General Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal. Department of National Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu, Task Force Balik-Loob Chairperson (C, TFBL), awarded checks worth Php 86,000 to each FR, as part of the programs under E- CLIP. The event was organized by MGEN Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr AFP, Commander of the 2ID. The FRs also enjoyed an opportunity to engage C,TFBL in fruitful dialogue, in which two of them expressed their desire to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They were then endorsed to MGN Burgos for special enlistment. USec. Mapagu also reminded FRs to avail of the other benefits of the program, like housing and medical benefits, as well as livelihood skills training, courtesy of member agencies like the National Housing Authority, Philhealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Eight of these FRs are members of indigenous tribes in Rizal and Quezon, and will be receiving further assistance and benefits under the National Council for Indigenous People (NCIP). C,TFBL assured all FRs that TFBL will continue to work on ensuring that all former rebels will receive all the benefits under E-CLIP. USec. Mapagu also commended the 2ID for its setting the bar in implementing the E-CLIP in Luzon and Visayas when it welcomed 13 former rebels back into the folds of the law. Since then, a total of 604 FRs have already trusted the 2ID with their transition back into society. USec. Mapagu also urged the division to continue its good work, as well as assist in the fight against terrorism and insurgency. He expressed hope that all active members of the New People's Army (NPA) will avail of this opportunity for peace and return to the folds of the law. E-CLIP is the flagship program of the Duterte administration that seeks to effect social healing and national unity through a whole-of-nation approach, towards the higher objective of having just and lasting peace. It provides social equity to former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and the Militia ng Bayan by devising a different modality of giving benefits and services to the FRs, in order to reintegrate them into mainstream society. These benefits do not serve as an end, but rather a means to aid the FRs in securing a foothold in restarting their lives. Task Force Balik-Loob is an interagency body headed that monitors and assesses the implementation of E-CLIP at the national level. Established pursuant to Administrative Order No. 10 of President Duterte, the TFBL includes the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the President, National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPAPP) as among its lead agencies, and other government agencies and instrumentalities as partner agencies that may be tapped to provide additional benefits and services to FRs.