Negros mayors back
peace pact with RPA
BUT MILITANTS SLAM AGREEMENT
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The mayors of Negros Occidental yesterday passed a resolution strongly supporting and endorsing the initiative of the national government and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade “to forge peace and jointly restore stability and normalcy to the country”.

The resolution was passed at a meeting of the Negros Association of Chief Executives and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Chapter at L’ Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, that was also attended by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson, head of both organizations, said.

President Benigno Aquino has ordered the fast-tracking of government’s commitments to a peace agreement it forged with the RPMP-RPA-ABB in 2000 to ensure its final resolution.

The peace agreement between the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade and the government was also a victim of mismanagement during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, its spokesman Victorino Sumulong, said yesterday.

Sumulong said “We’re just thankful of the rebel’s group patience, longing for peace and a normal life, which kept them from pursuing the armed struggle”. He added that, according to his assessment, the peace agreement is a failure.

“The government was never serious in the peace process. Let’s see what PNoy (President Benigno Aquino III) can do to rectify this,” he said.

The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority has taken   action against those  responsible for  ghost TESDA scholars in the past, and is ensuring  that its  accredited schools are complying with standards, TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva said yesterday.

Villanueva said that, of the P2.4 billion TESDA scholarship vouchers from the past administration being claimed, they have found that only P880 million was implemented.

“Only an operation audit was conducted so we don’t even know if the P880 million was properly implemented,” he also said.