The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade yesterday marked its 11th founding anniversary, by calling on government to have the “political will” to fast-track the implementation of their peace agreement.

“We are disappointed in the poor compliance of the government…the first phase of implementation is not yet completed,” said Ka Victorino Sumulong, RPA-ABB spokesperson, referring to the confidence building measures they had agreed on.

The RPA-ABB and its political wing - Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas – signed a peace agreement with the government at rites in Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental, in 2000.

The commitments of the government that have not substantially been complied with, Sumulong said, include the concrete development projects to address poverty, release of 235 political prisoners, and dropping of all charges filed against members of the negotiating panel and consultants of the RPM-P-RPA-ABB, among others.

Despite the snail-paced implementation of the agreement, Sumulong said the RPA-ABB is committed to stand pat on what  it signed in the agreement.

Sumulong also said, despite the ups and downs of the organization in the past 11 years, the RPA-ABB have organized and consolidated their territorial commands, regular armed formations, and civilian insurrectionary forces stationed in major areas of the country.

“Our ranks were cleansed of unremolded members and petty bourgeoisie influence”, Sumulong said, referring to the expulsion of Nilo de la Cruz and his group from the RPA-ABB for gross violation of party rules, gangsterism and anti-people acts.

Sumulong said they will also continue to repudiate and denounce what he claims are bankrupt strategies and Stalinist leadership adopted by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in waging their revolution.

                                  ABUSES

Meanwhile, Karapatan-Negros claimed it has documented cases of human rights violations in Brgys. Minapasok and Marcelo in Calatrava, on abuses allegedly committed by Scout Rangers.

The alleged human rights violations cited by Karapatan and Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, included threats and intimidation, harassment, manhandling, evacuation, torture, coercion and evacuation.*GPB

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