ADVANCING the national goals of ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), Bohol sets up a system which allows an enhancement of the package of assistance which the government dangles for rebels who now wish to come out clean and live in peace.
Through Executive Order No. 27, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado institutionalized a local program supporting the reintegration of former rebels (kanhi rebelde) into Kauban sa Reporma (KR) Program especially for those who wish to formally surrender and finally live in peace without fear of getting caught up by the long arms of the law.
The government offered enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (e-CLIP) to rebel surrenderees who surface, abandon the armed violence and rejoin the mainstream of society through a package of financial, psychological, educational, legal and livelihood assistance to fast-track the attainment of ELCAC goals.
A joint Memorandum Circular issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of National Defense (DND) in 2021, provided for the guidelines for the availment of the e-CLIP benefits for surrendering former rebels who were active in the underground movement as violent extremists from 2018 to present.
This leaves former rebels who laid-low before 2018, who can not avail of the package of benefits as they are technically in-active and are thus vulnerable to recruitment and threats from active members.
With a cut-off date set for KRs to avail of the e-CLIP benefits, the Aumentado Executive Order institutionalizes the local KR Program and intends to embrace the former rebels who could not avail of the national e-CLIP, and provides benefits for them, as operationalized under the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD).
According to Gov Aumentado, KR program beneficiaries include Boholano former rebels who were active as members of the armed group, Militia ng Bayan from 2010 to 2018and with a Joint Army Police Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) certification but are not beneficiaries of the package of eCLIP assistance under the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, series of 2021 by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense.
Funded by the annual appropriations under the OPSWD and the Provincial Cooperative Development, and the provincial government’s initial P2M operational starting fund.
And just like those former rebels who could avail of the national government’s assistance, Bohol’s localized ECLIP also gives P10K immediate assistance as the KR is enrolled and processed to the program.
Candidates can also get P30K start-up fund for livelihood assistance, P15K reintegration assistance for expenses incurred while processing the Joint Army Police Intelligence Committee certification, some halfway house services, security arrangements, and other assistance.
Other assistance refers to the OPSWDs facilitation in affirming the KRs identity in the society through identification processing, support for relocation as well as other services that may be tapped from participating national and local government agencies for skills and capacity building and livelihood training.
The Bohol KR program which is an equivalent to the national government’s assistance also includes remuneration for surrendered fire arms, explosives, ammunition, vehicles and equipment. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
