CEBU CITY -- Admitting that government is "catching up" on the implementation of its peace agreements with armed groups, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza yesterday lauded local truce efforts, including that of Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon and Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela.

Dureza, who spearheads the 3rd Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area meetings of the 12th ASEAN Summit here, said Marañon and Coscolluela's initiatives, including those of other Negros local governments had significantly contributed in ensuring that provisions of the peace pacts are realized.

"We lack resources, but government is trying its best to be hands-on. It's a process," Dureza said, citing that salient provisions of the peace agreement it entered into with the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade in Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental in 2000 are slowly achieved.

Dureza, former Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, replaced national peace convenor Teresita Deles, who left President Gloria Arroyo's Cabinet last year, over allegations the chief executive cheated in the 2004 polls. He said livelihood assistance programs and other projects are ongoing to improve the lot of beneficiaries using part of the P500 million earmarked for their implementation.

Local monitoring teams, under the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee, oversee the program in Negros Occidental, Oriental Negros, Iloilo , Aklan, Antique, and Nueva Ecija.

But while the RPA-ABB is now a government "partner," Dureza cautioned its leadership to also guard against abuses and to police its ranks, especially on the screening of members allowed to carry firearms in controlled areas.

'CLOSED, NOT LOCKED'

Meanwhile, Dureza said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army has meantime closed its doors to peace negotiations with government. On the part of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines , "The door is closed, but it's not locked. It can open anytime," he said.

NPA hitmen murdered former comrade and Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas founder Arturo Tabara at a Quezon City mall parking are on Sept. 26, 2004, four years after he acceded to peace negotiations.

Killed with him was Stephen Ong, his daughter's boyfriend, police records indicated.

Tabara is also consultant of the JEMC national technical working group on the cessation of hostilities.

The peace agreement envisions to dismantle the RPA-ABB as an armed group. Its members' re-integration to government armed forces has also been eyed.*GCT

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