Kalinaw News: OPAPP Secretary Galves leads the destruction of firearms in Cordillera Region

Posted to the Kalinaw News (Oct 24, 2020): OPAPP Secretary Galves leads the destruction of firearms in Cordillera Region

CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – BGen Laurence E Mina PA, Commander, 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army joined Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., as he leads the ceremonial decommissioning and destruction of firearms turned-in by the former members of Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) on October 23, 2020 at Camp Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad, Benguet.

A total of 444 firearms have been inventoried under the Disposition of Arms that is one of the components of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Government and the CBA-CPLA. To recall, on November 21, 2013 there were 27 explosives that were detonated as part of the decommissioning. The said MOA signed by both parties signifies ceasefire agreement famously known as the Mt. Data Peace Accord or Sipat.

Prior to this, communist insurgency in the Cordillera was triggered by the exploitation of resources such as the establishment of Chico River Dam project and the Cellophil Logging Operations in the decade of the 70’s. After realizing that the ideology of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army runs counter to the aspirations of the Cordillera People for ancestral domain and right to self-preservation, the Cordillera NPAs bolted out from the CPP-NPA. This was the birth of the CPLA.

Eventually, Executive Order No 49 signed by former President Benigno Aquino III, on July 04, 2010, called for the transformation of the CBA-CPLA into a legal socio-economic entity thus formation of the Cordillera Forum for Peace and Development.

In his message, OPAPP Secretary Galvez said that, “Nakita namin na talagang ‘yong pagbibigay ng armas sa ating gobyerno ay isang napaka-humbling experience po sa atin. Rest assured na yung ginawa niyo pong pagpapakumbaba at pagbibigay ng armas ay amin pong papantayan.”

Meanwhile, BGen Mina gave a brief summary of 5ID’s efforts in recognizing the voices of the Cordillerans and the government’s response to achieve the mutual goal of lasting peace and prosperity. He further reassured the Command’s support to the provisions of peace agreement between the GRP and CPLA.

Also present during the event are AFP Northern Luzon Command Commander MGen Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., PNP Peace Process and Development Center Chief BGen Walter Castillejos, PNP-Cordillera Director PBGen R’win Pagkalinawan, PNP-Cordillera Deputy Regional Director for Administration PBGen Lawrence Coop, CBA-CPLA leaders, Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council Chair Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, DENR-Cordillera Director Ralph Pablo, and DSWD-Cordillera Director Leo Quintilla.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

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