Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, acting commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command chief said the military is hopeful that the signing of the closure peace agreement between the government and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (Tabara-Paduano Group) will be realized before the start of the 2013 election period.

Mabanta, who attended the 16th founding anniversary of the Talisay City School of Fisheries in Negros Occidental, yesterday, said the signing of closure agreement will lead to the disarming of RPA-ABB members, and transform the armed group into a civilian, political, economic organization, and mainstream its members into their communities.

The closure agreement will also prevent politicians and some organizations from possibly using them during elections, he added. The filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2013 elections has been set on the first week of October, and the election period kicks off in January next year.

The RPM-P-RPA-ABB Tabara-Paduano Group has 716 members, OPAPP records show. Of the profiled members, 607 are in Negros Occidental and 58 in Negros Oriental, and the rest scattered in Panay and some areas of Mindanao and Luzon.

“That is why, to me,” Mabanta added, it is very important that the closure agreement is signed as soon as possible.

In previous elections, complaints were aired about the alleged use of RPA-ABB members by some politicians.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that all required documents for the closure agreement, including resolutions of support from peace and order councils, have already been signed by the stakeholders and sent to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos –Deles, for signature, before it is forwarded to Malacañang to be signed by President Aquino.

OPAPP is also negotiating with the other group, the RPM-P-RPA-ABB, is headed by Nilo de la Cruz.

The RPM-P-RPA-ABB Tabara-Paduano Group signed a peace agreement with the government in year 2000.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process yesterday proposed a P279.16 million budget for livelihood and development programs for conflict-affected communities identified by the RPA-ABB Tabara-Paduano Group.

OPPAP said the development programs for RPM-P-RPA-ABB identified communities will be implemented through the PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) program, a national government framework and program for peace and development in conflict-affected areas, as well as in communities covered by existing peace agreements, and not through the rebel group.* GPB

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