Call for resumption of GPH-NDFP peace talks generates support from broad array of sectors

Press Release
July 15, 2014

QUEZON CITY – “The peace talks have been stalled since 2011,” said Bp. Deogracias Iñiguez. “We challenge both the GPH and the NDFP panels to muster the political will to resolve the current impediments to the continuation of the talks.”

“All of those whom we have approached to support the call for the resumption of the GPH-NDFP peace talks readily agreed to be included as convenor, or at the minimum, to sign the unity statement we have drafted,” said Bp. Elmer Bolocon of the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum.

“With more than 50 convenors representing peace advocates, church people, sectoral and people’s organizations, and even some government officials, we have launched our campaign Kapayapaan, in a big way today July 15, 2014 at the Claret AV room, Mahinhin Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, Quezon City,” said Bp. Bolocon.

“In looking at the state of the nation, we could not gloss over the reality that a civil war is currently raging in the country,” Angelito Manalili, convenor of Kapayapaan and former dean of the UP-College of Social Work and Community Development said.

“It does not really matter who we believe – the AFP who is claiming that it is winning the war against the CPP-NPA-NDFP or the CPP-NPA who says that its forces are growing and are present in majority of the provinces in the country – the fact of the matter is that the civil war has been going on for decades already; it has been affecting the country; and it appears that it would be here to stay for as long as the roots of the armed conflict have not been addressed,” said Manalili.

“This civil war is rooted in poverty, landlessness, joblessness, lack of social justice,” said Manalili. “So if we want just peace, these problems must be addressed by the peace talks between the GPH and the NDFP.”

“My son Jonas has devoted his life to better the conditions of farmers through his advocacy for genuine agrarian reform, harnessing the collective strength of farmers, and enabling them to increase their productivity,” said Edita Burgos, mother of missing activist Jonas and wife of press freedom icon, the late Joe Burgos.

“For this, he was taken from us by the military and has been missing since. I think the peace talks could achieve a lot in addressing the plight of the farmers. Also as we in Desaparecidos pursue our search for our missing loved ones and seek justice, we also believe that the resumption of peace talks between the GPH and the NDFP would help us in our efforts. Isn’t the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) about justice?” Edith Burgos added.

“We believe that the implementation of the CARHRIHL and the reconvening of the Joint Monitoring Committee would aid us in our search for our kin,” Edita Burgos said.

“We have to push for the resumption of the GPH-NDFP peace talks now. The window of opportunity is fast closing. In my experience of serving three presidents, I have observed that at the last year of an administration, nothing much could be done anymore. There is truth in the term ‘lame duck president’, said Rep. Silvestre Bello, former chief of the negotiating panel of the government, then called the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

“We must urgently push for the resumption of the peace talks. Both the GPH and NDFP panels could start by honoring the previously signed agreements. A lot of efforts were put into the crafting of those agreements. The Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees alone took more than 100 drafts before being signed by both sides,” said Rep. Bello.

The initial list of convenors and signatories to the unity statement include, Archbishop Sergio Utleg of Tuguegarao, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando Pampanga, Bishop Narciso Abellana of Romblon, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon, Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi, Bishop Pedro Arigo of Puerto Princesa, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, Bishop Roberto Mallari of San Jose Nueva Ecija , Bishop Edgardo Juanich of Taytay, Palawan, Bishop Reuel Marigza of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines, Bishop Lito Cruz of the IFI, Re. Rex Reyes of the National Church of Christ of the Philippines, Bishop Felixberto Calang of the IFI in Mindanao, Bishop Joel Tendero of Southern Tagalog, Fr. Ramon Caluza, provincial superior of CICM, Sr,. Maureen Catabian, provincial superior of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, Makabayan president Satur Ocampo, Dr. Carol Pagaduan Araullo of Bayan, Elmer Labog of KMU, former Representatives Mong Palatino and Rafael Mariano, Councilor Leah Librado of Davao City, Atty. Roan Libarios, Joel Lamangan, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, among others.

“We are addressing our calls to both the Aquino government and the NDFP: Resume the peace talks. Honor existing agreements. Address the roots of the armed conflict,” said Bp. Deogracias Iñiguez.

“Resume, Honor, Address are our simple calls. If both the GPH and the NDFP heed our calls, we believe that a just and lasting peace could be made a reality,” Bp. Deogracias Iñiguez concluded.

Meanwhile, during the launch of Kapayapaan, the chairman of the NDFP peace talks panel sent a message expressing willingness to engage in informal talks “without preconditions.”