BANGUED, Abra (PIA) -- Leaders of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army and Cordillera Bodong Administration (CPLA-CBA), the Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Cordillera,   and other peace partners  relived   the  dedication of the late  renegade priest  Conrado Balweg in the  pursuit of peace and regional  autonomy.

Last September 28, they led a wreath offering and “atang” ceremony at the tomb of Balweg at the  Bangued Public Cemetery.

“National government gives significance to pay homage to peace partners and champions through  Proclamation   675. s. 2008 in commemoration of Fr. Balweg’s invaluable contribution to lasting peace by saving the Cordillera youth in the futile arm struggle, ” OPAPRU Cordillera Regional Consultant Ramon Yogyog  said.

Balweg’s  daughter  Dia Felice Balweg expressed her thanks  to  the government for recognizing     the efforts of his  fatherr  including his comrades 23 years since he passed away.

“For the first time in 23 years, there is a tribute like this for my father and to his partners and this means so much not only for our family but for the whole region also,” Felice said.

 She expressed optimism that the fruits of her father’s sacrifices will one day be a lasting legacy with the continuous pushing forward of the Cordillera Autonomy.

It can be recalled  that  in 1986, Balweg led the CPLA in a peace agreement or ‘sipat’  with the national government  thru then President Corazon Aquino at the Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain  Province   for the  cessation of hostilities in the Cordilleras.This historic moment paved the way for the government to recognize and establish a Cordillera Administrative Region  thru  Executive Order  220 as a transition  towards Cordillera Autonomous Region as enshrined under the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The activiti  was also  in line with the  celebration of  National Peace Consciousness Month.(JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)