DA allots P1.6B for rural dev’t projs in Mindanao

BACOLOD CITY – Who’s leading the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) now?

A leadership problem apparently hounds the breakaway communist rebel group after Nilo de la Cruz, chairman of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas (RPM-P), claimed that Stephen Paduano, alias Carapali Lualhati, no longer heads the group’s armed wing and has been expelled, along with Veronica Tabara alias Inca and Ariel Sabandar alias Suk, from the movement.

De la Cruz said Lualhati’s expulsion took effect last April 18 yet.

He said Lualhati’s group was accused of harassing voters in E.B. Magalona town on the eve of the elections to prevent residents perceived to be supporters of Mayor Alfonso Gamboa from exercising their right to vote. 

Lualhati admitted having supported incoming Mayor David Lacson but denied masterminding the harassment, as claimed by De la Cruz and Gamboa who lost his re-election bid.

Lualhati denied having been expelled from the RPA-ABB, claiming it was De la Cruz instead who was removed due to cases filed against his group in the regions.

“What De la Cruz did was usurpation of authority because neither of us can decide on cases against leaders but the organization’s congress,” he said.

Alab Katipunan spokesman Ben Solilapsi came to Lualhati’s defense, claiming that the latter still has full control of the RPA-ABB nationwide. 

He dismissed it as propaganda and a desperate move by some quarters to undermine the peace process.

RPA-ABB spokesman Miguel Guevarra, in a statement, said the RPM-P condemns the atrocities perpetuated by Lualhati against the people of Negros.

RPM-P, the movement’s political wing, also accused Lualhati of disseminating lies and intrigues that vilify the group’s leadership, perpetuating corruption, promoting vested interests, and employing mercenary acts and “gangsterism.”

With their alleged expulsion, Lualhati, Tabara and Sabandar ceased to be representatives in the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee as part of the ongoing peace agreement with the government, said Guevarra, citing a RPM-P resolution.

RPM-P and RPA-ABB were set up in 1998 after they broke away from the mainstream Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. They have a stronghold in Western Visayas, with Negros Island as their base.

The group entered into a peace agreement with the government during the term of former President Joseph Estrada, with P500 million allocated for its livelihood and reintegration programs.