By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Jon Aying, revealed Joint Task Force Buglas, formed to prevent any spillover of violence from Mindanao and prevent terror activities in Negros Occidental, was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to provide rewards for members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who surrender.
In a press conference following the task force’s first counterterrorism meeting yesterday, Aying said the order was given during a closed-door meeting when the president recently visited Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, the site of last month’s NPA attack that left six police officers dead.
According to the order, surrendering platoons will be provided a home, along with livelihood training.
Aying noted, some who choose to leave the NPA will be allowed to keep their firearms, as their lives are at risk if the group goes after them. He noted, those with firearms will be monitored.
Surrendering individuals would be provided a similar package, along with P150,000 from the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) and P50,000 for every high-powered firearm surrendered.
Rebels leaving the NPA will also be provided with free psychological and social counseling.
Additionally, a cash reward awaits those who facilitated a surrender.
Meanwhile, Aying noted, P100,000 will be provided for any information that leads to the arrest, capture, or neutralization of rebel group members, regardless if they are from the NPA, a radical Islamic group, or private armed group.
He added, the public can get in contact with the task force; TM subscribers can use 0935-852-5490, while Smart subscribers can use 0999-109-2829./WDJ