Concerns vs plan to arm rebels raised

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – Catholic Church leaders in Negros island have raised concerns over the plan to arm members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) once a closure is reached between the breakaway rebel group and the Philippine government.

Father Burton Villarmente, coordinator of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Dumaguete, told The FREEMAN this was one of the issues raised by him and his counterparts from other dioceses in Negros during the regular meeting of the Church-Military Advisory Group (CMAG) held in this capital city recently.

Villarmente said that part of the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government and the RPA-ABB includes allowing some of the group’s members to carry firearms within pre-designated communities to protect themselves from harassment and possible attacks by certain quarters.

The RPA-ABB is a breakaway group of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and is currently into peace negotiations with the government.

Villarmente explained that SAC coordinators who were present during the latest CMAG meeting in Dumaguete were apprehensive about the plan to arm RPA-ABB members as this could be prone to abuse if stringent control measures were not in place beforehand.

Army officials had earlier revealed that some of the RPA-ABB members, once a closure in the peace talks is reached, will be trained similar that to the Civilian Armed Auxiliary of the Philippine Army, and will be allowed to carry firearms as “village watchmen.”

CMAG members, composed of officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the four dioceses in Negros Island, are to schedule a special meeting this month to discuss this matter further, Villarmente added.

The Social Action Center leader is hoping that issues regarding the arming of RPA-ABB members will be ironed out before a closure of the peace talks is reached in the coming weeks. (FREEMAN)