Military gen warns NPAs: Live normal lives or else..

By Peter Balocnit

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- The military urged members of the New People’s Army to come down from the mountains and live normal lives with the rest of society.

Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Imbang Jr., commanding officer of the 503rd Infantry Brigade stationed here, called on active NPAs roaming Kalinga to settle for peaceful life so their grievances will be addressed by government.

“So long as you are still there posing threats to peace and order stability, the military will run after you,”Imbang said adding that the state security force is now bent on finishing the fight against insurgents.

  “What worries us is the presence of youth activists in schools trying to indoctrinate the innocent minds of students. Kung may ma-recruit silang isa, dalawa, tatlo…wala na naman, back to zero naman tayo,” he said during the meeting of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) committee.

He called on partner national agencies and local government units to strengthen convergence approach in public service delivery.  This approach which is being done in the region, he said, contributes in the decapacitation of the NPA strength.

Under the E-CLIP, rebels joining mainstream society will be given livelihood assistance at their choice amounting to P50, 000.00 as start-up project.

Engr. Eduardo Tamayao of TESDA disclosed that their office is ready to accept former rebels willing to undergo technical-vocational training. Qualifications for training will not apply to them as per order from President Rodrigo Duterte, he said. -- PIA Kalinga