WELCOMING FORMER REBELS. About 310 former combatants of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) turn over their firearms to the government on Sunday (Sept. 8, 2019). They are set to undergo training that conforms to military standards. President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with the former combatants this September 19. (Photo courtesy of 3ID)
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is expected to lead the formal demilitarization of 310 former combatants of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) at the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division’s (3ID) headquarters in Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz on September 19.
The 310 combatants, whose members are from Maasin town in Iloilo province, Ibajay town in Aklan, Tanjay City in Negros Oriental, and cities of Bago, Cadiz, and Kabankalan, and Cauayan town in Negros Occidental, had turned over their firearms to the government on Sunday.
Capt. Cenon Pancito III, 3ID’s Public Affairs Office chief, said in a press conference at Camp Delgado on Wednesday, that the President will mark the start of the “decommissioning process” of the combatants.
“The President intends to come in the opening of the training as well as to hear from the group,” Pancito said.
As part of the decommissioning process, Pancito said the former combatants will stay at the 3ID headquarters for at least two months to undergo training under the Army.
The doctrines they received from the rebels will be taken away and replaced by the military way of peace and security operations, he said.
The combatants who surrendered also gave up 207 long and short firearms, assorted explosives, and rounds of ammunition.
"One of the concerns why they refused to surrender their firearms (before) is that they say they are prone to the abuse of their former comrades in the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army,” he said.
After the training, Pancito said the former combatants will be issued firearms to become Special Civilian Active Auxiliary members.
The RPA-ABB is a breakaway group of the CPP-NPA. They separated from CPP-NPA in 1996 due to ideological differences.
Last 2000, the RPA-ABB has signed a peace agreement with the government.
“With the instruction of the President to terminate the national peace talks, we have intensified our localized peace negotiations with this group. In just a short period of time, we are able to accomplish much,” he said.
Localized peace talks had paved the way to the achievement of peace as it attacks concerns on the local level. “We can reach to their respective commanders or leaders to address the issue,” Pancito noted.
On March 26, a dialogue with the RPA-ABB was initiated by 3ID in the presence of Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr.
Veronica Tabara, the group’s chairperson, assured the full transformation of her members and gave assurance to continue to help the people and the government in attaining genuine peace in their communities.
The 310, who pledged their allegiance to the government, are 100 percent recognized members of the RPA-ABB, Pancito said.
The group is said to have an influence on 100 villages in the country, 91 of which are in Western Visayas.
Pancito said the rest of the rebel groups should “take a cue” from the RPA-ABB and also return to the folds of the law.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1080211
The 310 combatants, whose members are from Maasin town in Iloilo province, Ibajay town in Aklan, Tanjay City in Negros Oriental, and cities of Bago, Cadiz, and Kabankalan, and Cauayan town in Negros Occidental, had turned over their firearms to the government on Sunday.
Capt. Cenon Pancito III, 3ID’s Public Affairs Office chief, said in a press conference at Camp Delgado on Wednesday, that the President will mark the start of the “decommissioning process” of the combatants.
“The President intends to come in the opening of the training as well as to hear from the group,” Pancito said.
As part of the decommissioning process, Pancito said the former combatants will stay at the 3ID headquarters for at least two months to undergo training under the Army.
The doctrines they received from the rebels will be taken away and replaced by the military way of peace and security operations, he said.
The combatants who surrendered also gave up 207 long and short firearms, assorted explosives, and rounds of ammunition.
"One of the concerns why they refused to surrender their firearms (before) is that they say they are prone to the abuse of their former comrades in the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army,” he said.
After the training, Pancito said the former combatants will be issued firearms to become Special Civilian Active Auxiliary members.
The RPA-ABB is a breakaway group of the CPP-NPA. They separated from CPP-NPA in 1996 due to ideological differences.
Last 2000, the RPA-ABB has signed a peace agreement with the government.
“With the instruction of the President to terminate the national peace talks, we have intensified our localized peace negotiations with this group. In just a short period of time, we are able to accomplish much,” he said.
Localized peace talks had paved the way to the achievement of peace as it attacks concerns on the local level. “We can reach to their respective commanders or leaders to address the issue,” Pancito noted.
On March 26, a dialogue with the RPA-ABB was initiated by 3ID in the presence of Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr.
Veronica Tabara, the group’s chairperson, assured the full transformation of her members and gave assurance to continue to help the people and the government in attaining genuine peace in their communities.
The 310, who pledged their allegiance to the government, are 100 percent recognized members of the RPA-ABB, Pancito said.
The group is said to have an influence on 100 villages in the country, 91 of which are in Western Visayas.
Pancito said the rest of the rebel groups should “take a cue” from the RPA-ABB and also return to the folds of the law.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1080211
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