In Negros Oriental Gov't conducts inventory of RPA-ABB's firearms

CEBU, Philippines - This forms part of a series of firearms inventories and profiling of members conducted in Negros and Panay Islands as part of the ongoing peace agreement with the RPA-ABB and an “imminent closure” between the government and the RPA-ABB’s Tabara-Paduano group.

OPAPP staff, assisted by the police and military, proceeded to an isolated location in sitio Candanqui of Barangay Azagra in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental Friday morning for the inventory that was witnessed by the media and Azagra village chief Felix Mira, Jr.

Also present during the inventory were a number of RPA-ABB members, headed by one of its commanders, Rey Mallari.

Among the items presented for inventory were long and short firearms of different calibers, live rounds of ammunitions, hand grenades, rocket propelled grenades and other explosives.

Mira, meanwhile, told the media that he is supporting the peace process because he wants peace in his barangay as well as continuance of implementation of government projects.

Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said that after the inventory the firearms and other items will be returned to the RPA-ABB for safekeeping until a closure of the peace pact is reached.

Those that were not properly documented during the inventory will be considered as loose firearms, Patrimonio added.

As of press time, no records were made available yet as to the number of firearms, ammunitions and explosives belonging to the RPA-ABB in Negros Oriental based on the inventory.

OPAPP records, however, showed that the RPA-ABB in Negros Island have more than 500 firearms while 102 are with other members of the group in Iloilo, Antique, and Aklan provinces, a report in a regional daily said.

These records further showed 192 of these firearms were in the 1st district of Negros Oriental, 63 in the 2nd district, 77 in the 3rd district, 38 in the 5th district and 110 in the 6th district, with 68 more in Tanjay City.

Patrimonio said there are at least 58 RPA-ABB members in Negros Oriental.