TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro led the ceremony for the distribution of incentives to rebel returnees in Luna, Apayao on Nov. 22.
Joining Teodoro were Apayao Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr., Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, Northern Luzon Command Commander LtGen. Fernyl Buca, 5th ID Commander, and MGen Audrey L. Pasia.
The initiative, dubbed “Celebrating Oneness, Progress, and Unrelenting Nationalism” (COPUN), the acronym meaning “friendliness” in the Isnag language, aims to promote peace.
Teodoro, in his message, said Cagayan and Apayao’s solidarity and unity were essential elements of the “networking” for peace.
During the Balik-Loob program, six former rebels from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Apayao who turned in their weapons received a payment of half a million pesos each, and P1 million for the informant.
The six former rebels retreated and joined the 17th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Oliver C. Logan, Commanding Officer of the 17IB, and Team Liberator of the 502nd Infantry Brigade led by BGen. Eugene M. Eye, Commander, 502nd Brigade. They obtained one M60 machine gun, three M653 rifles, two M14 rifles, one M16 with a M203 grenade launcher, one AK-47 rifle, and 14 M16 rifles, for a total of 22 weapons.
According to Major Rigor Pamittan, the granting of incentives to the former rebels and informants was through Governor Bulut’s Executive Order No. 22 which stipulates prizes to to anyone who returns to the government and is able to teach the rebel locations.
Attendees included the Battalion Commander of the 17IB and 98IB, PNP, officials and other government agency.
Complementing the national support offered through the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program, the Apayao government’s cash incentives, in accordance with Executive Order 22-2022, help to maintain peace and order, Gov. Bulut said.