FUND FOR PEACE. Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, says on Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2020) he believes the Negros Occidental provincial government is transparent in the use of the peace and order fund. By questioning it, the New People’s Army just wants to discredit the support provided by the province to former rebels and for poverty alleviation programs, he added. (PNA photo by Nanette Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY – A top official of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental has dismissed the claim of the New People’s Army (NPA) over the use of the peace and order fund allocated by the provincial government.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (303rd IBde), said the criticism of the communist-terrorist group is just aimed at discrediting the support provided by the province to former rebels and for projects and programs intended to alleviate the lives of Negrenses in underdeveloped areas.
“The use of funds can be checked. We believe that the Negros Occidental provincial government is transparent regarding this,” Pasaporte told reporters on the sidelines of the Media Night hosted by the 303rd IBde at Nature’s Village Hotel in Talisay City on Tuesday.
Pasaporte said Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, who alleged that the peace fund is being used for intelligence and psywar operations, should instead explain to his own group the corruption in the use of funds of the rebel movement in Negros Island.
“I encourage him to answer and explain it. I know they have problems over their own funds,” he added.
Pasaporte also responded to the NPA’s allegation that the people’s money is used to militarize the services of the local government in the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict and the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).
“The peace and order fund is not used for the RCSP, which is being funded by the local government units themselves and supported by the national government agencies,” he added.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the allocation of such funds is based on the wisdom of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
“We cannot question that. (The process) of drafting the budget is participatory. It’s founded really on good projects. One of them involves helping people affected by the armed conflict. Those who want to return to the fold of the law receive financial and livelihood assistance,” he said.
“Let’s respect each other’s opinion and we hope that the law-abiding Negrenses will see that this is for lasting peace in the province,” Diaz added. (PNA)
