|
Friday, October 08, 2004
RPA-ABB to pursue peace process, Tabara buried
By Jimmy P. Abayon
DUMAGUETE CITY -- A member of the monitoring committee of the joint National Government and Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) peace panel is optimistic both parties will pursue their peace agreement despite the assassination of Arturo Tabara.
Tabara was the chairman of the RPA-ABB's political wing, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas.
Bishop Hilario Gomez, United Church of Christ in the Philippines pastor of Dipolog City, was speaking minutes before the RPM-P leader was laid to rest Thursday noon at Dumaguete Memorial Park.
RPM-P is the political arm of the RPA-ABB, a faction of the leftist movement that broke from the mainstream Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) over ideological differences in 1992.
Gomez, vice chairman of the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee representing civil society, said the peace process will continue "in Negros island, Panay, and other parts of the country."
The bishop further said that RPM-P acting chairman and chief of the ABB Nilo de la Cruz, who was also present during the burial, assured them to continue the process.
Tabara was buried in simple funeral rites at exactly 12:30 Thursday afternoon under grey clouds and heavy rain showers amid red banners displaying the hammer and the sickle of the movement and chants calling for justice.
In his brief eulogy, Bishop Gomez described the slain leader as a "peacemaker who gave his life for the oppressed."
Even as the funeral service was ongoing, chants from scores of supporters waving unfurled red banners denounced the CPP-NPA as "terrorists."
The RPM-P-RPA-ABB accused the CPP-NPA of killing Tabara and his daughter's boyfriend Stephen Ong last September 26 as well as Aklan RPA-ABB senior commander Daniel Batoy and his daughter last August 22.
During the high mass at Dumaguete Cathedral at around 10:25 a.m., the celebrant Msgr. Merlin Logronio paid tribute to the slain PRM-P chief.
"He spent his life for some noble purpose," Msgr. Logronio said.
Tabara's remains arrived at the Dumaguete Cathedral Church ten minutes past ten o'clock borne by a caravan of scores of banner-waving supporters aboard trucks from nearby Sibulan who arrived on the eve of the burial from Bacolod City.
The body was lain in state at the Sibulan gymnasium for public viewing.
From Cathedral Church, Tabara's remains were brought to Dumaguete Memorial Park accompanied by his supporters who marched the two-kilometer distance chanting anti-CPP-NPA slogans and calling for justice to their felled leader.
Security was tight both at the Cathedral Church and the memorial park.
Present at the burial of the RPM-P and RPA founder were top leaders of the breakaway faction including De la Cruz, regional commander Rey Mallari, Negros command chief Carapali Lualhati, family members and friends, executive assistant Dionisio Eltanal III representing the provincial government, Rev. Samuel Bacarro of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Negros Oriental, and provincial police director Senior Supt. Marciano del Mar, among others.
(October 8, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
