Paduano relinquishes RPA leadership

STEPHEN Paduano, commonly known as Carapali Lualhati, said that with the accreditation of Abang Lingkod party-list, he has already relinquished the leadership of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA) to transitional leaders.

Paduano, who is the number one nominee of Abang Lingkod, said he has already filed his Certificate of Candidacy, and that he has relinquished the RPA leadership in a conference held last year.

He said they will concentrate on transformational socio-economic political organization or the electoral process.

Abang Lingkod, which has a coalition with 1-DSWD, is the number 136 party-list, or the last group on the list of party-lists that are allowed or accredited by Comelec to have its representatives at the House of Representatives for the May 2013 elections.

Paduano said that with his 20 to 25 years at the countryside, he can personally relate with the needs and the plight of the farmers, especially the Agrarian Reform beneficiaries.

He stressed the importance of giving support services for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) beneficiaries in order to survive and sustain the lands given to them.

In fact, in a survey they have conducted in Negros, about 75 to 80 percent of the Carp beneficiaries no longer possess the land given to them because of the lack of support services from the government.

He also said that Abang Lingkod will also look after the welfare of the fisherfolk and the urban poor.

Abang Lingkod's third nominee is former first district board member Willy Saratobias.

Meanwhile, Paduano said the final peace agreement between the RPA and the government may happen anytime because all the pertaining documents are already at the table of President Benigno Aquino III.