Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) spokesperson, Captain Cenon Pancito III, recently revealed former Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) members will undergo a two-month training as part of “demilitarization.”

He announced 267 individuals belonging to the Kapatiran sa Progresibong Lipunan faction will be trained on protecting communities through Peace Development Centers and self-defense units, such as the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units.
Around 310 RPA-ABB members surrendered to the military last weekend at 3ID headquarters in Jamindan, Capiz. The former rebels originated from across the region, including Aklan, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, along with Tanjay City in Negros Oriental.
The military official said the surrendered rebels were identified as “armed members” of the group and a turnover of firearms was conducted across the region, which gathered 207 long and short firearms, assorted explosives, and rounds of ammunition.
The government will decommission former combatants and their firearms within this week, he added.
The RPA-ABB is a breakaway faction of the New People’s Army operating in Western Visayas.
Pancito explained, the RPA-ABB and its political wing, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas, signed a peace agreement with the government in 2000./DGB, WDJ