PA Banias mediates AFP official – RPA member rift, says incident a 'misunderstanding'
All's well that ends well. And no need for a mere misunderstanding to get in the way of the road for peace.
Or so it is now for Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Civil Relations Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here. At the other side of the road is Joven Tababa, organic member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA). The RPA, former comrades of the Communist Party of the Philippines is now subject of government peace talks.
Both figured in an incident decried by Marquez as clear harassment and a direct threat to his life and family.
The duo met yesterday in a meeting and "peace talks" initiated by Presidential Adviser for Panay and Guimaras Raul Banias. After an hour of exchange, The News Today (TNT) gathered that matters were threshed out and both stood up to seal the "peace talks" with a firm handshake.
Captain Marquez in an interview told TNT he is happy over the quick resolution and quick peace realized with PA Banias at the helm of said meeting. This, as he conceded that indeed what happened Sunday was a case of misunderstanding.
To recall, Marquez reported to town police of Leon, Iloilo an "encounter" with Tababa and some 6 armed RPA soldiers. Some forty locals of a hinterland village here cordoned off Marquez from what was perceived as a potential attack that Sunday evening.
Tababa alias Ka Randy was purportedly with a "private army," all fully-armed and appeared to be ready for battle. Captain Marquez said he recalled seeing at least six armed men, two visibly brandishing long-arms and the others with short side-arms.
Labeling the confrontation as clear harassment and direct threat to his life and his family, Captain Marquez decried the actuations of the suspect and his associates.
As such, he called for intervention and action from RPA top brass saying it is a must that abusive acts of its members cum comrades be stopped.
Marquez said it was the first time he ever had a physical confrontation with the suspect. In fact, off hand he cannot give a motive to the unprovoked attacked.
"I hope these harassments do not continue and the RPA higher-ups can do something about it," Captain Marquez then said. True enough, he got his word from yesterday's meeting.