BONTOC, Mountain Province, May 18 (PIA)- – The provincial government joins the Sangguniang Bayan of the ten municipalities of the province in condemning the terroristic actions of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and other lawless elements in their respective jurisdictions.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 2020-182 declared the CPP-NPA and other lawless elements as “persona non-grata” in the province.
It stated that despite the sincerity of the provincial government to assist rebel returnees through its ‘Livelihood Program for Rebel Returnees,’ the CPP-NPA and other lawless elements continue to perpetrate atrocities which propagate fear to the peace-loving people and disturb the socio-economic status of the province and its aim of achieving peace and order.
The livelihood program is being implemented since 2011. It was started by the late Governor Leonard Mayaen and continued by Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr.
Under the program, a former rebel is contracted to work as a forest guard, or reforestation worker, road maintenance man, community worker or other jobs as maybe agreed upon and receives an honorarium of P5,000.00 per month based on the actual working days. These FRs are directly supervised by their respective punong barangays.
The ten municipalities earlier declared the rebel groups as ‘unwanted’ in their respective jurisdictionss.**
