OPPAP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo briefed the Philippine National Police officials, headed by Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, on the closure peace agreement between the government and the RPA-ABB.

In his briefing on the status of the draft closure agreement, Montalbo, reported that the government allocated P25 million worth of infrastructure projects for 347 resettlement sites, with each RPA-ABB member provided with core shelter and inputs for livelihood.

As stipulated in the proposed interim security arrangement on resettlement areas, he said, a security force composed of TPG members will be organized and placed under the supervision of the military and police, in response to threat on their lives from the CPP-NPA.

The signing of the closure of the peace agreement is geared towards the transformation of the RPA-ABB into a civilian, political, economic organization; and to mainstreaming its members into their communities, providing them with livelihood and employment, and moving them towards disarmament and the dismantling of their military structure.

Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3rd Infantry Division commander, had earlier said that they are hopeful that the signing of the closure peace agreement will be realized before the start of the 2013 election period.

The signing will also lead to the disarming of RPA-ABB members, and will transform the armed group into a civilian, political, economic organization, and mainstream its members into their communities, Mabanta said.

Mabanta said the signing also prevent politicians and some organizations from using them during elections.

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

The 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.

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, headed by Nilo de la Cruz.

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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