Army eyes closure agreement with rebel group

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 18): Army eyes closure agreement with rebel group

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, of which Negros Occidental is under its command, is looking forward to the actuality of a closure agreement with Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa-Pilipinas (RPM-P)/ Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA)- Tabuara-Paduano Group (TPG).

3ID Commander MGen Jose Z Mabanta in an interview said that they are in constant touch with the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process as to the closure agreement.

According to Mabanta, the agreement is already at the table of President Benigno S. Aquino III awaiting the President’s signature.

“We would have wanted the closure agreement before the start of the election season, however, I think there are some kinks along the way, some technicalities that have to be fixed but it can be signed anytime, so we are looking forward to the day that there will finally be a closure agreement,” Mabanta told PIA.

This agreement aims for the disposition of arms and forces and mainstreaming of RPM-P/RPA-TPG members into society, transform the group into a legitimate socio-political organization and provide development support to TPG-identified areas.

“We encourage even members of the CPP-NPA to set aside their so called protracted warfare, put their firearms aside and join the parliamentary system, and return to mainstream society,” Mabanta said when asked for his reaction on former RPA-ABB commander Stephen Paduano aka Carapali Lualhati joining the election race.

Mabanta added that they are eagerly awaiting the closure agreement because it is something big. Even the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Framework with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is still a basic framework that has still a lot of issues to be settled while the closure agreement with the RPA is the totality.*

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1031361171323