Government denies P31-M payout to leftist armed squad
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
(UPDATED 6:37 p.m.) The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) on Wednesday denied reports that the government gave P31 million to the defunct Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB).
According to Opapp Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, the money is not intended for ABB since the peace agreement signed in 2000 also includes members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPMB-RPA).
“We are dealing with the RPMP-RPA-ABB, the three groups who banded together to break away from the New People’s Army, and chose to return to the folds of the law and join mainstream society,” he said.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte had already issued the same denial last Monday, saying the amount is part of the government’s Pamana or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program.
“There is no grant to the ABB. Pamana is the program for the development of communities and alternative livelihood. It is not for the government to turn over the funds to any armed group,” she said.
On Tuesday, Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay warned of demoralization in the Philippine National Police (PNP) due to the alleged payout to the ABB, who killed at least 200 policemen in the 1990s.
“It would seem that the government’s concern is more for those who have caused losses to the state rather than those who are risking their lives for the safety of our people,” she said.
At present, the government is conducting socio-economic profiling of RPMP-RPA-ABB members to determine appropriate livelihood and other development interventions for their communities.
Montalbo said a series of profiling held last month in Negros and Panay Islands for the former combatants belonging to the Tabara-Paduano Group (TPG) of the RPMP-RPA-ABB is almost finished.
A total of 495 TPG members were profiled on October 20-30. Negros Occidental accounted for 358 members, while Negros Oriental and Panay Island (Iloilo, Antique and Aklan) have 50 and 87 members profiled.
A non-government organization will undertake monitoring of projects.
Currently, the government through OPAPP is pursuing a closure track with both the TPG and the Nilo Dela Cruz Group of the RPMP-RPA-ABB for a closure agreement.
Montalbo also said that part of the mandatory provision for the closure pact with the RPMP-RPA-ABB is the disposition of arms and forces and its transformation into a legal, unarmed, socio-economic organization.
During the administration of former President Joseph Estrada, the government signed an agreement with the RPMP-RPA-ABB and committed to fund the reintegration and development projects for the rebel organization.
The program includes livelihood projects, housing assistance, education and training, primary health care, agriculture and irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, microfinance, among others.
Valte said the government will release the funds to the local government units (LGUs) in areas that will be identified for community development and livelihood assistance.
She added that the military expressed its support for the peace process with the RPMP-RPA-ABB, acknowledging its impact on security concerns on the ground. (Virgil Lopez/Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/02/government-denies-p31-m-payout-leftist-armed-squad-188334