36 RPA-ABB members yield guns to authorities

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Firearms, ammunition, and an explosive were turned over by 36 members of Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Police Major Robert Mansueto, city police chief, said police and military troops went to the upper part of Barangay Celestino Villacin around 5 a.m., where RPA-ABB members were located.

The RPA-ABB members turned over to the authorities 19 long firearms, 20 short firearms, 16 rounds of caliber .40mm ammunitions, assorted live ammunitions for calibers 30, .06, .308, and 5.56mm firearms, and an M203 grenade.

RPA-ABB is now known as Kapatiran para sa Progresibong Panlipunan Inc., as part of their institutionalized transformation.

Mansueto said all members of the RPA-ABB in the city are accounted for.

RPA-ABB members were previously allowed to possess firearms through an agreement with authorities but with the recent directive, all their firearms must be turned over to the security forces.

“After the procedure, they will be able to avail the housing and livelihood programs of the government, and they will also be trained to be part of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) to help the military and police in their campaign against insurgency, particularly in the upscale villages,” Mansueto added.

Meanwhile, Police Major Edison Garcia, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said the accounting of the firearms was in compliance with the order of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Garcia said it was simultaneously done in Western Visayas.

The collected firearms in the province will be transported to Iloilo City after the inventory is completed.