The Philippine Army yesterday urged the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas and the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers to file charges against suspects they accused of committing abuses in northern Negros.

The KMP and NFSW submitted the result of their fact-finding mission in EB Magalona and Sagay City, Negros Occidental, to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, which detailed the alleged abuses of members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, which had signed a peace agreement with the government.

“We urge the KMP and NFSW to file the necessary cases in court for proper action,” Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said.

While they support the fact finding missions of KMP, NFSW and their allied organizations, Mabanta, however, said “let us not forget that the New People’s Army is also present in the province (Negros Occidental), and even publicly announces the atrocities its members have committed and how they violate the rights of our farmers”.

OPPAP, in a statement, assured victims of alleged RPA-ABB abuses and peasant groups that justice will be pursued, as they are now in the process of studying the findings of the fact-finding mission.

The RPA-ABB dismissed the accusations as a smear campaign against them, which is being waged by the NPA and its allied organizations.

The series of accusations hurled against the RPA-ABB cropped up as the breakaway rebel group and the government are now in the closure stage of a peace agreement, targeted within the second semester of 2012.

Mabanta said the objective of the peace accord is to make the RPMP-RPA-ABB join mainstream society without arms.

“The 3ID looks forward to have the rebel group commit to peace and ensure their accountability to the rule of law,” he said. *GPB

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