Military reaffirms peace pact with RPA-ABB

The military met with leaders of a communist breakaway faction yesterday and agreed to resolve conflicts through peaceful means, an Army statement said.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos led the government’s panel in a meeting with leaders of the Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) at the Bacolod Convention Center, a statement said.

Both parties expressed unity "in their stand that differences be settled not by violence but by peaceful means for the best interest of the Filipino people," it said.

De los Santos said, "More than anyone else, the Filipino soldier will be the main beneficiary of the peace pact."

The group is a breakaway faction of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

The government temporarily pulled out of peace talks with the CPP after the NPA assassinated former Cagayan Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo last June 12.

Last Dec. 6, the RPA-ABB signed a truce with the former Estrada administration. It still maintains forces in about 600 villages in Central Visayas, the Army said.

Yesterday’s meeting was aimed at coming up with guidelines for implementing the December agreement, including livelihood projects promised by the government.

The meeting was organized by the office of Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita and led by National Security Adviser Roilo Golez.

Governors George Arnaiz and Joseph Marañon, of Negros Oriental and Occidental, respectively, expressed support for the peace process and pledged to launch livelihood projects. — Christina Mendez