A Philippine Army official here has expressed confidence that more rebels will give up their arms and return to the fold of law following the recent surrender of five rebels in Negros Oriental.
Lt. Colonel Marion Sison, commanding officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion (79th IB) camped in Siaton town, said he is optimistic that there will be more rebel returnees to follow.
“The snowballing of surrendering rebels to the unit is not far from real,” said Sison in a statement released by the Army.
Sison based his optimism on the success of the government’s Social Integration Program and how the New People Army’s Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral Bisayas-South East Front, which serves as its front operating in central and southern Negros Oriental, has become a “spent force now due to continuous operational setbacks.”
SIP grants livelihood assistance and provides an option for rebels who abandon the armed struggle and return to mainstream society.
The five rebels who surrendered to the 79th IB each received P50,000 under the SIP.
The cash was personally given by Gov. Roel Degamo and Col. Francisco Patrimonio of the 302nd Brigade on April 13 at the Governor’s Office in Capitol, this city. (with reports from Capt. Anacito Naz)
