| Cagas dismayed over RPOC’s lack of funds *Express plans to quit RPOC post |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Sunday, 20 July 2008 | |
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Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas who has been appointed by the President to the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) top post in Southern Mindanao is contemplating to vacate the newly acquired position.
Cagas, in a media interview, said he was extremely dismayed upon knowing the RPOC has no financial capabilities to fund its operations in Southern Mindanao.
“How could I impose plans and strategies to streamline the peace and order program in the region if the council has no existing funds?” Cagas said.
Earlier, Cagas announced he would be initiating a dialogue with the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to prevent further bloodshed and loss of lives caused by their conflict with the government.
“I believe war is not the solution to this conflict but through a formal talk where all the parties concerned will have the opportunity to air their grievances,” Cagas said.
He was even asking leaders of militant organizations to send a representative to the RPOC to hasten the peace process.
The revival of the “Balik-Baril” program as parallel action to encourage NPA rebels and MILF combatants to surrender their firearms and return to the fold of the law would not be materialized without sufficient funds from the government through the RPOC.
Cagas replaced Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who resigned after twelve years at the helm of the RPOC post.
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