RPA peace pact closure reviewed

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 17): RPA peace pact closure reviewed

The draft closure peace agreement of the government and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade Tabara Paduano Group is under due diligence review, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process said yesterday.

The signing of the closure peace agreement has been awaited by members of the RPM-P-RPA-ABB since last year.

“We hope to be able to finish the process soon and move towards the signing,” OPPAP, said in answer to queries from the Visayan DAILY STAR.

In line with the goal of the government to transform the group into a legitimate socio-economic and political organization, the RPA-ABB armed group changed its name to Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan, or Brotherhood for Social Progress.

Marlon delos Santos, newly-elected KPP secretary, had said earlier that, “Even without the signing, this is our way of showing the people that we intend to fulfill our obligation to the government by meeting the requirement of the peace agreement for the group’s institutional transformation.”

Of the 716 profiled KPP members, 607 are in Negros Occidental, 58 in Negros Oriental, and the rest scattered in Panay and some areas of Mindanao and Luzon. They also possess more than 400 firearms and 300 explosives, OPPAP records show.

The former rebel group entered into a peace agreement with the government in 2000.

The KPP, said in a statement it issued, they will pursue social justice as a key to lasting peace and genuine progress. It also vows to improve economic conditions and welfare of its former combatant members and strengthen its capabilities so that it could effectively pursue its commitment to continue to work for the interest of the working masses and pursue substantial reforms for the betterment of the working people.

Meanwhile, Stephen Paduano, national commander of the defunct RPA-ABB, has joined politics. The Commission on Election has allocated one seat at the House of Representatives for the Abang Lingkod partlist with Paduano as the number one nominee, it if it wins its petition in the Supreme Court.

Abang Lingkod garnered more than 260,000 votes, which entitles the group one seat at the House of Representatives.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/August/17/topstory7.htm