AFP verifies legitimacy of CPLA head, backs peace vow with gov't

Manila, May 5 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) today verified the legitimacy of the leadership of Arsenio Humiding, chairman of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) and ensured support for the armed group’s declaration of peace with the government.
 
 
“The CPLA is legitimately led by Arsenio Humiding, his group is what we recognize,” said Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (J3).
 
 
The CPLA, an armed group of indigenous peoples in the Cordilleras which split from the New People’s Army (NPA), signed the Mt. Data Peace Accord in September 1986 under the administration of the late President Corazon C. Aquino.
 
 
Mabanta rejected claims of other parties that they are the recognized CPLA, calling them "rogues".
 
 
"The CPLA has submitted a manifesto to us wherein all zone commanders pledged allegiance to the leadership of Chairman Humiding,” he said.
 
 
Humiding took his oath as CPLA Chairman on April 3 during the Cordillera Bodong Administration (CBA)/CPLA Political Bureau Conference in Baguio City.
 
 
Meanwhile, Mabanta issued support for the joint declaration of commitment for peace that the government and CPLA will sign tomorrow, May 6.
 
 
“This is peace and development we are ushering, and the signing that will happen between CPLA and our government shows what I thoroughly believe in, a holistic people-centered strategy in winning the peace.”
 
 
Mabanta, on his oath taking as AFP’s new operations chief, ensured the public with an appropriate execution of the new Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) also known as “Bayanihan” which is focused on the approach of “winning the peace.”#