JDV urges 3 CPLA factions to unify

BAGUIO CITY — Speaker Jose de Venecia journeyed to this city in driving rain the other day to work out the unification of three warring factions of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) before their planned integration into the Armed Forces.

"We want peace in Mindanao, peace in the Cordilleras, and peace in the hearts of the Filipino people," De Venecia announced to more than 300 CPLA commanders and fighters.

They gathered in this city, joined by De Venecia, Mayor Bernardo Vergara, and Reps. Mauricio Domogan of Baguio and Roy Pilando of Mt. Province and Cordillera regional chairman Sergio Kawi, to mark the 15th anniversary of the government-CPLA peace agreement.

De Venecia appealed to them to complete the three factions’ unification agreement within 30 days so the integration of an initial batch of 200 CPLA members into the military could get under way.

The CPLA is estimated to have a standing army of more than 1,000 people.

Kawi expressed full support for the unification of the CPLA’s three factions.

De Venecia asked Domogan, Pilando and Vergara to broker the unification, with the help of political leaders and representatives of non-governmental organizations in the region.

President Arroyo, he said, supports the integration of CPLA members.

He said he shares this position along with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.