Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Ex-rebel group in Negros Occidental turns NGO

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 17): Ex-rebel group in Negros Occidental turns NGO

The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) under Tabara-Paduano Group is now a non-government organization in Negros Occidental.

The rebel group that has an impending peace agreement with the national government is now known as the “Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan” or Brotherhood for Social Progress.

Gilbert Arsenal, its newly elected president, said the conversion of the group into a socio-economic organization is one of the conditions under the government’s proposed peace pact.

Arsenal said their group hoped that their transformation can encourage other members of New People’s Army to return to the mainstream society.

The RPA-ABB has 716 members nationwide wherein 607 are in Negros Occidental and 58 are in Negros Oriental.

Reports from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process said the RPA-ABB possesses more than 400 firearms and 300 explosives.

These firearms and explosives, however, are yet to be surrendered pending the signing of the peace agreement.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=517275

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