Red splinter group splits into 2 factions

Amid criticism for funding rebel groups, government peace negotiators say two groups are ‘armed but not dangerous’

THE communist splinter group with which the government is seeking peace has split into two factions, but an Armed Forces official said Thursday that would have no impact on the ongoing efforts to disarm the rebels.

Army Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, who worked with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to profile the rebels, told the Manila Standard that the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade had split over a clash of personalities and differences in “revolutionary strategies.”

But Bautista, commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, played down worries that the two factions would clash over a P31-million government livelihood program.

“Some 400 armed members of the two rebel factions have already surfaced and will soon surrender their firearms,” Bautista said.

The Armed Forces had assigned Bautista to help the government “profile” the armed rebels who are covered by the agreement.

The general said the RPMA-RPA was headed by Carapali Lualhati (nom de guerre Stephen Paduano) and Veronica Tabara, wife of the slain Arturo Tabara who was based in Negros, while the ABB was being led by Nilo dela Cruz (nom de guerre Sergio Romeo) based on Panay island.

“The split has not impeded the ongoing peace negotiations for final closure and completion of the peace accord signed on December 6, 2000 under the Estrada administration,” Bautista said.

“They co-exist peacefully. We have not recorded any assault against each other.”

But Bautista said the two groups started clashing with their former comrades in the New People’s Army after the Communist Party of the Philippines declared them “anti-revolutionaries” for breaking away from the mainstream group.

Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles said the government was negotiating with both groups.

On Thursday, the Alex Boncayao Brigade confirmed the split in a press conference in Quezon City and said the peace process was not just about the P31 million that the government had allotted to help the former insurgents and their families.

“Peace is not purely about money,” De la Cruz said.

“We are not against the financial assistance as long as legitimate members would benefit from the program. After all, this [amount] is small compared to the P50 million allocated to one faction of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army,” De la Cruz said, referring to another rebel group that also broke away from the communists.

He said his group had no agreement on the P31-million allotment, but had called for the release of all political prisoners, electoral and judicial reforms, and progressive taxation.

He said his group had split over the Lualhati group’s decision to support the government under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a move that the Alex Boncayao Brigade opposed.

Bautista on Thursday confirmed the claims of leftist lawmakers that the ABB had turned itself into “mercenaries, guns-for-hire and goons” for politicians, businessmen and the elite.

“This, unfortunately, indeed happened because the peace negotiations took so long to materialize. The government was not fast enough to provide alternative livelihood for the armed rebels,” he said.

But Bautista said the two factions were “armed but not dangerous.”

“They have turned their back on the armed struggle and we look forward to the day that they would also enjoy peace like any ordinary Filipino citizens do,” he said.

He denied talk that the military was using groups such as the ABB in its counter-insurgency campaign.

“What do we need them for?” he said.

“The Armed Forces have the resources. In fact, we want these rebels disarmed, disbanded and rehabilitated. We urge the NPAs to also give up the armed struggle.” –Christine F. Herrera and Rio N. Araja, Manila Standard Today