Peace Advocates of Negros members yesterday said they are asking the Commission on Elections not to exempt the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade from its election gun ban.

In a letter to COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos, the PAN members told Abalos a COMELEC exemption from the gun ban would enable the RPA-ABB "to further intimidate leaders and followers of political groups and people's organizations they are opposed to and communities they wish to dominate." PAN also said in its letter that there have been incidents in the past of abuse and harassment by the RPA-ABB.

PAN said that, as far as it knows, only 13 to 15 members of the RPA-ABB have been issued special permits to carry firearms outside their residents. "Majority of the group do not hold gun licenses and/or permits to carry firearms. Therefore it is unqualified - as a collective - for such an exemption," PAN said.

The PAN letter was signed by Dondi Poblador, Francis Yulo, Alex Ozoa, Raffy Berba, Delia Locsin, Felix Querubin, Ma. Lourdes Tison, Lina Hilado, Anne Ledesma, Emilio Hilado III, Daniel Hagad, Andres Hagad and JP Yulo.

Copies were furnished to Jesus Dureza - Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Rafael Coscolluela - Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas and Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon.*CPG

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