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Tuesday, September 10, 2002
No 'respected' area in DSB, RPM-P head tells DENR
By Avelyn Z. Agudon
THE leader of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas (RPM-P) denied a claim by Raul Lorilla, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), that the breakaway rebels have a so-called "territory" in Don Salvador Benedicto.
"There is no respected area. I believe they are just protecting somebody," said RPM-P chairman Arturo Tabara.
Lorilla claimed in last week's hearing of the Negros Occidental Provincial Board (PB) committee on environment that the RPM-P's armed wing, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) considers Barangay Bagong Silang as their "territory."
Lorilla said the massive cutting of naturally grown trees occurred in the RPA-ABB's "territory" and that the police and military could not operate in this area in respect to the peace agreement signed between the National Government and the breakaway rebels.
Tabara said Lorilla does not know what he is saying because the military and police could operate anywhere.
Moreover, Col. Alphonsus Crucero, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, also denied Lorilla's claim.
Crucero said Lorilla could have just made a mistake in his statement. "He has not read the peace agreement," he added.
Lorilla's claim had earlier prompted the PB committee on environment to push for a dialog between the military and police to define the specific obligations of the breakaway rebels based on the peace agreement.
Tabara also said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should release the guidelines on the implementation of the total log ban in Don Salvador Benedicto so that the RPA-ABB will have a reference in helping the government protect the forests.
The mobilization of the breakaway guerillas to implement the total log ban was earlier approved by Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Eduardo Ermita.
Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and the Peace Advocates of Negros, however, oppose the plan. |
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