Monday, July 21, 2008 Old rebels want to 'retire': Cagas By Carlo P. Mallo
A NUMBER of rebel leaders in Mindanao want to return to the folds of the law or so, Davao Sur Governor Douglas Ra. Cagas said Sunday.
Cagas, who has recently assumed his post as Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) chair, said that because many rebel leaders are getting older, some have expressed desire to retire from their struggle and return to mainstream society.
The governor said that some of the leaders he knew were already rebel leaders way back in the late 70's.
Cagas also said the RPOC will undergo drastic changes as he takes over its reins.
According to him, certain changes must be made in the peace and order council to make it effective in ensuring peace and order in Southern Mindanao.
"We need an action plan that will be implemented throughout the entire region," Cagas told reporters last week.
He added that the meetings of the council should be more than a mere reporting of the security officials of the region, but also focus on planning how to provide peace and order, especially now that rebel groups have stepped up their atrocities in the region.
For his part, the governor said he is pushing for local negotiations that are to be spearheaded by the respective local executives instead of peace negotiators from Manila.
"The local executives are more credible than the appointees, so the local government officials who have been elected by the people would be more credible in negotiating with the rebels," Cagas said.
