'PAYOUT', SAYS IT IS 'PAMANA'
Posted on Tuesday, 25 October, 2011 - 15:21 CEAP: Peace Please!
Peace with Justice!
"Even in the most difficult and complex times, besides recognizing what is
happening, we must above all else turn to God's love…[This requires]
self-denial, acceptance of others, justice and peace." (Pope Benedict XVI,
Caritas in Veritate. #79).
Once again, we are tempted to fight fire with fire. The violence that was
ignited by the killing of 19 AFP soldiers and 6 MILF combatants in Basilan on 18
October has led to more suffering among our people. To date, some 20,000 people
have been displaced from their homes in...[Read
the full statement here]
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 2, 2011 (STAR)
By Jun Pasaylo – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
said the P31 million funds for the members of the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) is
not a "payout" but part of the government's socio-economic programs to the
former combatants of the rebel group.
The reaction came after reports revealed that the government was not only
"funding" the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mindanao, but also the members of
the ABB, who were allocated with more than P500 million.
OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo dubbed the media reports as
"misleading", saying "There is no truth to that report; OPAPP never gave P 31
million to the ABB."
He said the report failed to detail that the funds were intended to the three
breakaway groups of the New People's Army (NPA) – Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng
Manggagawa ng Pilipinas, Revolutionary Proletarian Army, and Alex Boncayao
Brigade – and not to the ABB members alone.
"The use of ABB alone to refer to the group that signed the peace agreement
with the government in 2000, as reported by a media network, was misleading. We
are dealing with three groups that chose to return to the folds of the law and
join mainstream society," he added.
He said the report was sourced from the website of Payapa at Masaganang
Pamayanan (PAMANA) that stated that the funds were intended for community
development and livelihood projects for three peace and development community
sites in Negros Island where there are members of the RPMP-RPA-ABB.
"OPAPP is very transparent in its disbursement of funds. It is part of
PAMANA's funds for 2011 amounting to P 568 million," he noted.
He said the government has been conducting socio-economic profiling to the
hundreds of members of the three groups to determine appropriate livelihood and
other development interventions for their communities.
"A total of 495 members were profiled on October 20-30. Negros Occidental
accounted for 358 members, Negros Oriental (50) and Panay Island (87)," he
cited.
Montalbo stressed that the profiling will guide the government in creating
peace and development communities that will serve as resettlement sites for the
returnees.
"This is fully supported by the local chief executives, civil society
organizations (CSOs) and the local Armed Forces of the Philippines and
Philippine National Police commands," he said.
PAMANA aims to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities to
address issues of conflict through community-driven initiatives that promote
peace. These include capacity building, road rehabilitation and livelihood
projects.
"While both groups have expressed commitment to fast-track the implementation
of the 2000 peace agreement, the socio-economic development component of the
pact will be given to communities through PAMANA and its implementation
mechanism," Montalbo said.
Meantime, the Palace said it is committed to complete peace agreement with
the RPMP-RPA-ABB and will release the money intended for the group.
"The Aquino administration is committed to the five negotiating tables that
are pursuing just and lasting peace," said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte.
She added that the government will release the funds to the local government
units (LGUs) in areas that will be identified for community development and
livelihood assistance.
Valte also said the military expressed its support for the peace process with
the RPMP-RPA-ABB, acknowledging its impact on security concerns on the ground.
Posted on Wednesday, 2 November, 2011 - 02:32
Manila, Nov. 1 - The government has been conducting socio-economic profiling
of members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary
Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) to determine appropriate
livelihood and other development interventions for their communities.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo said that the series of profiling held last
month in Negros and Panay Islands for the former combatants belonging to the
Tabara-Paduano Group (TPG) of the RPMP-RPA-ABB is almost finished.
"A total of 495 TPG members were profiled on October 20-30. Negros Occidental
accounted for 358 members, while Negros Oriental and Panay Island (Iloilo,
Antique and Aklan) have 50 and 87 members profiled," he said.
Montalbo stressed that the profiling will guide the government in creating
peace and development communities that will serve as resettlement sites for TPG
members. "This is fully supported by the local chief executives, civil society
organizations (CSOs) and the local Armed Forces of the Philippines and
Philippine National Police commands."
MGen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the AFP's 3rd Infantry Division said,
"The AFP fully supports the peace process with the RPMP-RPA-ABB as it impacts on
security concerns on the ground."
The security forces are helping OPAPP with the profiling activities.
PAMANA to deliver socio-economic development
According to Montalbo, the development interventions identified from the
profiling will be covered under PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan
(Peaceful and Resilient Communities), the government's program and framework for
peace and development in conflict-affected areas.
PAMANA aims to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities to
address issues of conflict through community-driven initiatives that promote
peace. These include capacity building, road rehabilitation and livelihood
projects.
"Currently, the government through OPAPP is vigorously pursuing a closure
track with both the TPG and the Nilo Dela Cruz Group of the RPMP-RPA-ABB for a
closure agreement. While both groups have expressed commitment to fast-track the
implementation of the 2000 Peace Agreement, the socio-economic development
component of the agreement will be given to communities through PAMANA and its
implementation mechanism, which provides for the engagement of a third party CSO
to undertake monitoring," Montalbo said.
He added that part of the mandatory provision for the closure pact with the
RPMP-RPA-ABB is the disposition of arms and forces and its transformation into a
legal, unarmed, socio-economic organization.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER
ON PEACE PROCESS http://www.opapp.gov.ph/
Government holds socio-economic profiling of ex-combatants
in negros island
P31M is PAMANA fund, not pay out to ABB
Montalbo
clarified media reports which claimed that OPAPP gave P 31-million to ABB.
"There is no truth to that report. OPAPP never gave P 31-million to the ABB."
"The use of ABB alone to refer to the group that signed the peace agreement
with the government in 2000, as reported by a media network yesterday afternoon
is likewise misleading. We are dealing with the RPMP-RPA-ABB, the three groups
who banded together to breakaway from the New People's Army, and chose to return
to the folds of the law and join mainstream society," he added.
According to Montalbo, the information on the P 31-million fund quoted in
news reports is from the PAMANA website. "OPAPP is very transparent in its
disbursement of funds. The PAMANA website clearly states that the P 31-million
is for community development and livelihood projects for three peace and
development community sites in Negros Island where there are members of the
RPMP-RPA-ABB."
"It is part of PAMANA's funds for 2011 amounting to P 568 - million, and were
provided for conflict-affected communities who find it more difficult compared
to other communities to jumpstart their development."
"The funds are granted for implementation of peace and development projects
to LGUs or regional implementing agencies such as DSWD for implementation. Other
beneficiary communities from Luzon, Mindanao and other parts of Visayas can also
be found in the same website where the information on the P 31-million fund for
Negros Island was seen." he added.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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