Returning to the fold of the law is still the better option for members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and Militia ng Bayan (MB) members rather than living in the mountains and fighting against more heavily equipped and better trained government forces. This is what Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, chairperson of Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL), said as he once again appealed to the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) to surface as soon as possible for their own welfare.

Usec. Mapagu said that, “These rebels should decide now while they still have the chance.” He added that with the pledge of the new AFP Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Felimon Santos, Jr. to pursue and aggressive campaign against terrorists, the NPA will
have little to no chance at all to win against determined government security forces. It can be recalled that LtGen. Santos stressed in his assumption speech on Saturday, 4 January 2020, that the AFP will “continue to be proactive against the local terrorist groups.”

He added, “If the NPA and MB members surface now, they are guaranteed to preserve their lives, and at the same time, can be reunited with their families. They can also enrol in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and avail of its
benefits, which are not only for them but for their family members as well,” Usec. Mapagu said. Benefits under the E-CLIP include cash assistance, education, livelihood training, housing and employment assistance, as well as loan processing business capital.

He also guaranteed that he, together with the lead and partner agencies of TFBL, will continue to work together to expedite the granting of benefits to all former rebels. “This will be our contribution to the government’s efforts in “securing lasting peace,” which is also the slogan under the new leadership of LtGen. Santos. The CTGs should take advantage of this opportunity and surface now. This is how they should start the new year,” Usec. Mapagu reiterated. ###