ABALOS SAYS NORTHERN SAMAR BARANGAYS NOW FREE FROM COMMUNISTS

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Wednesday said all barangays in Northern Samar are now free from guerilla fronts and communist groups. 

“These barangays are now CTG-influenced free, wala nang mga guerrilla fronts dito ayon sa Philippine Army (PA),” Abalos said in a press release, noting that the barangays no longer support communist groups. 

Abalos recently led the distribution of over P160,000 worth of livelihood and financial assistance under the DILG-administered Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration (E-CLIP) program to 16 former rebels.

The former rebels each received P15,000 immediate assistance, P50,000 livelihood assistance, and firearm remuneration.

Abalos, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of providing the basic needs of a community such as water, electricity, schools, and well-paved roads to ensure sustainable progress and peace after being declared insurgency-free. 

“Mahirap kapag papabayaan na lang natin ang isang barangay pag-alis ng mga pulis at Army. We can only achieve this peace by having this kind of interventions sa grassroots mismo –kalye, tubig, kuryente, eskwelahan,” Abalos said. 

Abalos also hailed Northern Samar Governor Edwin Marino Ongchuan for granting additional financial and other assistance to the former rebels.—Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA Integrated News

This article Abalos says Northern Samar barangays now free from communists was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-05-08T13:00:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd