Former RPA-ABB rebels continue to promote new advocacy as forest guards

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 19): Former RPA-ABB rebels continue to promote new advocacy as forest guards

Ninety-five former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB) Tabara Paduano Group will continue to serve as deputized forest guards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) until December this year.

The DENR renewed the contracts of the former rebels starting this March.

The RPA-ABB is now known as the Kapatiran sa Progresong Panlipunan.

Edgardo Rostata, community environment and natural resources officer of Cadiz City, said the forest guards will engage in forest protection and law enforcement operations, as well as forestry-related activities, in coordination with the concerned local government units.

Twenty-two forest guards are assigned in northern Negros, of which 12 are newly-hired and 10 whose contracts have been renewed.

Other former rebels are assigned in areas under the jurisdictions of the CENR Offices of Bacolod and Kabankalan.

The DENR hired the services of 95 former rebels to protect the remaining forest cover and natural resources in Negros, Panay, Cebu and Bukidnon.

The move is part of the peace process between the national government and RPM-P/RPA/ABB.

Forty-three of the 95 former rebels were employed by DENR to help the agency in their forest protection program and related activities

The activity is also a prelude to the closure of the peace process agreement between the government and the RPM-P/RPA/ABB.

Before their deployment, Rostata said the forest guards were briefed on their duties and responsibilities, forest laws, rules and regulations, and procedures for apprehending violators.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=626947