Govt, CPLA prepare for closure agreement

GPH, CBA-CPLA prepare for closure agreement

Manila, May 9 – Following the signing of a joint declaration to indicate their steadfast commitment to fast track peace and development in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) are working towards a closure agreement that will lead to the transformation of the armed group into a legitimate socio-economic entity, and disposition of its arms and forces.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said that the closure agreement will “entail an essential shift in the way the CPLA views itself.”

“No longer as an armed group with a command structure that has commanders as leaders and combatants as members, but as a potent socio-economic, unarmed force that can directly make a difference in the lives of their families and communities,” she stated during the signing of the Joint Declaration of Commitment for Peace held last Friday at the Ortigas Park in Pasig City.

The peace adviser related that the closure agreement will embody six elements: community projects for identified communities; livelihood and employment support for CPLA members; sub-regional development projects; legacy documentation; final disposition of arms and forces; transformation of the CBA-CPLA into a potent, unarmed, socio-economic organization.

“We have from each side designated our joint panel which will be working very hard to detail the contents and procedures that will go into the agreement,” Deles said, adding that the closure pact will be signed in Malacañang upon approval of President Benigno Aquino III in the soonest possible time.
‘We are ready’

CPLA Chair Arsenio Humiding said that their group is ready to transform itself and face the enormous challenge of helping their communities surmount poverty. “Our organization is ready. The commitment is clear that we are willing and ready to transform,” he stated during his speech.

He expressed high hopes that the Aquino administration will “lead us head on.”

“Right now, we’re going to start with something new. We’ve proven to the Cordillera that the CBA-CPLA is strong, consolidated and united to stand on behalf of the Cordillera,” he said.

Humiding added that the preparation for the closure agreement has been an arduous process of dialogues and consultations.

He called on the various sectors to support the peace process between the GPH and the CBA-CPLA. “We need to act and finish the Mt. Data Accord. This has long been overdue and it’s time to be finished.”

CBA President Marcelina Bahatan, on the other hand, appreciated the “initiative of the current adviser (Deles) to work for the closure of the peace agreement.”

Commitment of support

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) Secretary Dinky Soliman expressed solidarity with the government and CBA-CPLA’s mutual pursuit for a negotiated political settlement.

She said that DSWD is eager to assist them in their plans of developing their communities through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resolute Communities) or PAMANA program.

“Under PAMANA, we will complement your efforts to achieve genuine development in the Cordillera,” Soliman told the more than 100 members of the CBA-CPLA who arrived all the way from CAR.

Pura Sumangil, chair of the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance (CCAGG), a civil society organization who has been helping the government mainstream former combatants in CAR for many years, proposed to help the GPH and the CBA-CPLA by keeping watch of the implementation of the closure pact.

“We offer ourselves to monitor for free the flow of seed investments coming from the government to the CPLA. This is to protect these investments at the same time ensure its honest project implementation,” she said, while challenging both parties to remain committed to the agreement. #

AFP verifies legitimacy of CPLA head, backs closure agreement with gov’t

Manila, May 5 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) today verified the legitimacy of the leadership of Arsenio Humiding, chairman of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) and ensured support for the armed group’s closure agreement with the government.

“The CPLA is legitimately led by Arsenio Humiding, his group is what we recognize,” said Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (J3).

The CPLA, an armed group of indigenous peoples in the Cordilleras which split from the New People’s Army (NPA), signed the Mt. Data Peace Accord in September 1986 under the administration of the late President Corazon C. Aquino.

Mabanta rejected claims of other parties that they are the recognized CPLA, calling them "rogues".

The CPLA has submitted a manifesto to us wherein all zone commanders pledged allegiance to the leadership of Chairman Humiding. he said.

Humiding took his oath as CPLA Chairman on April 3 during the Cordillera Bodong Administration (CBA)/CPLA Political Bureau Conference in Baguio City.

Meanwhile, Mabanta issued support for the closure agreement that the government and CPLA will sign tomorrow, May 6.

"This is peace and development we are ushering, and the signing that will happen between CPLA and our government shows what I thoroughly believe in, a holistic people-centered strategy in winning the peace.”

Mabanta, on his oath taking as AFP’s new operations chief, ensured the public with an appropriate execution of the new Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) also known as “Bayanihan” which is focused on the approach of “winning the peace.” #