Signing of the GPH-CBA/CPLA Closure Agreement at Rizal Hall, Malacañan

RTVM.GOV.PH - President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA).

In his speech, President Aquino said that the signing of the agreement is the last step that would end an almost twenty five-year peace process between the government and the CBA-CPLA and that he will not let the agreement be left as just a piece of paper for it will be implemented. A Joint Committee will regularly monitor and evaluate the development projects under the agreement. The President also reiterated his call to the Filipino people to be part of the solution.

The agreement, dubbed as a “closure agreement”, is said to transform and hasten the attainment of peace and development in the Cordillera Region. It is also expected to complete the demobilization, reintegration and transformation of the CBA-CPLA into a socio-economic organization. Under the MOA, the following activities are expected to commence: projects for identified communities; livelihood and employment support for CPLA; sub-regional development projects; history documentation of the struggles of the Cordillera People; final disposition of arms and forces; and transformation of the CBA-CPLA into a socio-economic organization.