MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The province of Lanao del Sur is heightening its implementation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which has expanded its coverage of beneficiaries.
Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) – Lanao del Sur Provincial Director Mcmillan Lucman detailed that before, the E-CLIP was enacted solely to give benefits to rebel surrenderees such as the former members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
However, seeing the drastic need to cover ex-violent extremists, the scope of the program was widened to include the local terrorists who have finally returned to the fold of the law.
Lucman stated that surrendering members of the Dawlah Islamiya – Maute Group (DI-MG), the group that primarily caused the siege in Marawi in 2017, can already be provided support to start anew.
“Itong expansion nato sa ECLIP, sinama na ang former rebels at violent extremists so include na sila. Marami na ang nagsurrender from the siege na iyon na hinintay nila ang paglabas ng E-CLIP na ito para makapasok ang intervention ng gobyerno para sa mga nagsurrender,” he said in the 3rd quarter joint Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Council (PADAC) meeting Tuesday, September 6,
[In this expansion of the E-CLIP, the former rebels and violent extremists were already incorporated so they are already included. A lot who have surrendered from the siege waited for this implementation of E-CLIP so that the interventions of the government would come in for surrenderees like them.]
As the expanded E-CLIP is carried out, Lucman shared that the administration of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has likewise started its delivery of efforts with the confidence that their act is backed by a legal basis.
He cited that the program of the Bangsamoro region dubbed Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit (TUGON) is presently leading the initiatives for the violent extremists who yielded to the authorities and were able to obtain certification from the Joint AFP-PNP Integration Committee (JAPIC).
Lucman said this certification is necessary as this serves as proof that they are qualified to avail of appropriate benefits.
With the expansion of the E-CLIP, the MILG urged those who still operate with their local violent extremist group to submit themselves to the government as a new life awaits them.
“Alam ng gobyerno ang paninindigan niyo but nakita namin how important it is for us to unite lalo na may BARMM tayo. Tayo ay nananawagan sa mga sumusuway pa na pumasok na dito sa ating mga programa dahil mas makikinabang lahat tayo dito as united Muslims for Bangsamoro,” he said.
[The government knows your stand but we see how important it is for us to unite especially that we have BARMM. We are calling on those who still go against the government to enter through our program because here, all of us will benefit as united Muslims for Bangsamoro.]
The MILG bared that around 50 to 60 former DI-MG members are waiting in line to get help from the BARMM government. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
