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Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Ex-CPLA members to protect tourists in region
By Harley Palangchao
TO PROVIDE full security to tourists visiting the world-famous rice terraces in Ifugao would be the first assignment of some former members of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA), who were sworn in recently as full-pledged members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The former CPLA cadres' deployment to Ifugao is in consonance with the standing agreement between the military and Cordillera Police Regional Office (PRO-CAR) to provide security among visitors, especially the foreigners, said Army Gen. Rodolfo Alvarado, commanding general of the 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu, Isabela.
Last year, the PRO-CAR and AFP forged a memorandum of agreement outlining their respective roles in providing full security assistance among visitors following the abduction of a visiting German couple along the boundary of Banaue, Ifugao and Mt. Province middle of last year.
Alvarado claimed that some 70 to 80 AFP integrees to be deployed in Ifugao, particularly in Banaue town, are well familiar with the terrains of the region so they can easily go after individuals or groups victimizing tourists.
Recently, some 249 of the original 264 CPLA integrees, were sworn in as full-pledged members AFP after passing through an eight-month re-training that started in May 21 last year. Fifteen among the integrees were elevated to the rank of second lieutenants.
The new graduates will be segregated into three companies and to be deployed in different areas in the Cordillera region.
Alvarado also said that the primary jobs of the new soldiers are to provide security to tourists, to help restore the cultural heritage of the terraces and to serve as partners in tourism development.
The integration of the CPLA cadres into the AFP has been a long-time promise of the government after the Aquino administration forged a peace pact with the CPLA through its former supreme commander and slain rebel priest Conrado Balweg in Mt. Data in 1986.
The promise was only fulfilled last year when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Administrative Order 18, providing for the integration.
(January 8, 2003 issue)
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