Aid provided for livelihood assistance, gun buy-back

Five former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) insurgents from the Iloilo towns of Calinog and Lambunao recently surrendered to authorities and were provided assistance yesterday at the Iloilo Governor’s Office.
Philippine Army 301st Brigade commander, Colonel Marion Sision; Department of the Interior and Local Government-Iloilo Director Teodora Sumagaysay; and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. led the turnover of aid, wherein each recipient was given P15,000 in immediate assistance and P60,000 worth of livelihood assistance.
In addition, they were also eligible for a maximum P70,000 for surrendering firearms. Among the firearms presented included  two .38 caliber and one .45 caliber gun, one shotgun, and an M1 garand rifle.
“We want to let them know that the government has programs in helping them start anew,” Sison said.
He added, there are still 184 insurgents under surveillance across the province./WDJ