Lt. Colonel Marion Sison, commanding officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion, 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.

Sison said he is optimistic that more rebel returnees will follow their example.

The surrendering of rebels to the unit is snowballing, Sison said in a press release.

He said his optimism is based 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 and operating in central and southern Negros Oriental, has now become a spent force due to continuous operational setbacks, the press release said.

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 program recently.

Meanwhile, Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Brigade commander, said the former rebels should utilize the cash aid wisely for their livelihood undertakings.

Before receiving the livelihood package, the former rebels were required to attend a socio-economic training to prepare them psychologically and socio-economically as they make their way back to the mainstream society, the Army said.*PIA

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