Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday said he condemns any illegal use of firearms by members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade.

The bishop was reacting to reports that RPA-ABB member Edgar Nicor allegedly shot Labor Arbiter Phibun Pura in Talisay City on Sunday, and that another member of the group and his brother who was linked to a Bacolod robbery, were arrested for illegal possession of firearms, in Bacolod City yesterday.

A .45 caliber pistol with a magazine of ammunition was recovered from Arnel, who was arrested while visiting his detained brother, Jury, at the Police Station 8 headquarters in Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City .

Senior Inspector Placido Gentoleo yesterday said Jury was arrested by the police at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex in Bacolod City , at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday, for having a .38 caliber revolver. This was followed by the arrest of his brother, Arnel, about 30 minutes after, at the Police Station 8 headquarters, also for carrying a pistol.

Charges for illegal possession of firearms were filed yesterday against the Nacis brothers before the Bacolod City Prosecutor's Office.

Police said Jury was also positively identified by Security Guards Robert Antonio and Angelito Romales of being one of the eight suspects who disarmed them of two .38 caliber revolvers, while his seven companions robbed the Unitop Merchandizing, about 500 meters away from the Police Station 1 headquarters at Gonzaga Street in Bacolod City, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Antonio and Romales are members of the 7 th Security and Investigation Agency assigned at the Unitop Merchandizing that was robbed of about 50 assorted cellular phones by the eight suspects.

Antonio and Romales were stabbed by the suspects and suffered minor injuries.

Arnel was reported to have been helping Police Station 5 in running after robbery-hold-up suspects in Brgy. Granada , Bacolod City , and neighboring areas

The bishop said Maj. Gen Jovenal Narcise, 3 rd Infantry Division commanding general, and Col. Honorato de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, explained that armed forces should carry firearms solely to defend citizens and to maintain peace and order.

“In this case where it is very clear that the RPA-ABB are not legal and lawful people so therefore I myself condemn there actions, if they have done them,” Navarra said, referring to the Talisay shooting and the Bacolod arrests yesterday.

Andres Hagad of the Peace Advocates of Negros said under the RPA-ABB peace agreement with the government its members cannot carry firearms except for a few who were issued licenses.

The problem is that when RPA-ABB members are caught with firearms, government authorities do not do anything about it, he said.

“They have been given privileges above and beyond the privileges given ordinary citizens,” he said.

So the fault is not so much with the ordinary RPA members, but with the government for not implementing the agreement, he said.

Authorities have been tolerating violations of the RPA-ABB, civil society has complained in the past about this but no action was taken, Hagad said.*CPG/GPB

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