KIKO REBUFFS GOVT OFFER OF P50K/M-16 RIFLE
SURRENDERED BY REBEL RETURNEE

Following the government's announcement that it is increasing its reward for every M-16 rifle surrendered by rebel returnees from P18,000 to P50,000, Senate Majority Leader and Judicial Bar Council (JBC) ex-officio member Kiko Pangilinan today criticized the government's "short-sighted strategy" in solving the armed conflicts.

"Mula pa nung 1950s and pagpapa-surrender ng armas ay ginagawa na ng gobyerno, ngunit 'di ito nagbigay-daan sa ganap na kapayapaan. Balewala ang P50,000 kung 'di naman mabibigyan ng hanap-buhay, trabaho at magandang edukasyon and ating mga kababayan sa mga lugar na laganap ang kahirapan," Kiko said.

Presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. announced that on top of the P20,000 cash assistance and P50,000 livelihood aid being extended to former members of the New People Army, a rebel stands to receive P120,000 for surrendering his or her firearm.

"Masiglang ekonomiya ang tanging paraan upang mawalan ng saysay ang armadong pakikibaka at ang masiglang ekonomiya ay mangyayari lamang kapag makabago na at hindi makaluma ang pamamahala at pamumuno," Kiko ended.