CPLA head seeks Aquino help

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Jul 25): CPLA head seeks Aquino help

CORDILLERA Peoples Liberation Army chairman Arsenio Humiding is asking President Benigno Aquino III to intervene in the issues surrounding the organization and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Humiding said the letter to the President was sent March 22 and was transmitted to the Palace after.

The chairman said the move is a last resort of sorts, with frustration on the implementation of the signed agreement for the transformation of the CPLA from an armed group to an economic force three years ago.

Humiding also asked for a dialog with the OPAPP to clear issues on the implantation of the agreement, which is moving slower than expected.

There are four components of the agreement between government and the CPLA: CPLA integration to the Armed Forces of the Philippines; community development projects, livelihood and “legacy documentation”.

All of which have been moving in a snail pace, as alleged by Humiding, brining unrest and confusion to the group.

Aquino signed with the CPLA an agreement for peace and issued Executive Order 49, enjoining government agencies to ensure the smooth implementation of the closure agreement between the CPLA and the Philippine government.

Humiding said the aim of the agreement was to transform the CPLA but with the component of the agreement far from being completed the organization is left with no closure.

"Papaano natin masasabing nag transform kung wala pang closure," he questioned.

Humiding said the letter to the President relayed the dismay with OPAPP and his hope that the agreement will still have meaning and true transformation.

The CPLA chair said he hopes to dialog with the President and the OPAPP to look at the status of the agreement and backtrack to original plans and see the present status today.

"We want an assessment and review of the Memorandum of Agreement," Humiding explained.

This he said will enable the group to move on.

The CPLA is awaiting response from the Palace and said in the meantime they are doing a private assessment and review to be conducted by the MOA signatories.

The results to which are yet to be disclosed as the process is ongoing.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2014/07/25/cpla-head-seeks-aquino-help-356054