By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano said, after nearly two decades of talks, there needs to be a peace agreement between the Philippine Government and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB).
Beginning in 2000, the talks have yet to produce a closure agreement.
Paduano said he was invited to a recent meeting of the peace panel as a former commander of the RPA-ABB and a consultant.
He believed a ceremonial turnover of firearms by the RPA-ABB would catch the attention of President Rodrigo Duterte, considering the said agreement has long been stalled in Malacañan Palace.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking to hire former RPA-ABB members as forest guards, as part of the government’s confidence-building measures.
Paduano also proposed, if successful, the peace model and framework between the government and RPA-ABB could be also used with the New People’s Army (NPA).
The RPA-ABB is a breakaway faction of the NPA with an estimated 700 members nationwide. At the height of its rebel activities, Negros Island was among its strongholds./WDJ