(MALAYA) SEN. Jinggoy Estrada yesterday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front leadership to investigate reports that its leaders have been getting a 50 percent “cut” on the P100,000 cash grant given to rebel returnees.
Estrada, during the hearing of Senate Committee on National Defense on the decommissioning of MILF fighters and weapons, said he learned about the alleged cuts during a meeting with former MILF fighters and Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez.
He said the MILF rebel returnees were given P100,000 each, which was promised by the government, but their commanders took half of it, he said.
Estrada said there are at least 26,000 MILF fighters, and if all of them are willing to return to the mainstream society, the amount to be allegedly collected by the MILF commanders would amount to some P1.3 billion.
The cash gifts are from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Alexander Yano, who forms part of the government peace implementing panel, said he confirmed the supposed cut on the cash gifts when he had a “private discussion” with Minister Mohagher Iqbal, MILF panel chair.
Yano said Iqbal told him he is “addressing the issue.”