Lasting peace can
be President Aquino’s legacy to the Filipino people
A Statement of the Ecumenical
Bishops Forum on the Peace Process
July 22, 2015
It is not too late for the
government of the Republic of the Philippines under the incumbency of
President Benigno S. Aquino III to forge an agreement with the
National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Lasting peace can be his
legacy to the Filipino people. He still has more than ten (10) months
to do that.
No less than the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Hon. Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., believes
that “peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines -
National Democratic Front can still be done within the remaining term
of office of President Benigno Aquino III.” (Philippine News Agency,
July 20, 2015).
Belmonte went to the
Netherlands as part of the Philippine delegation to the hearing of the
United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos)
when it heard the case filed by the Philippine Government against
China on the West Philippine Sea dispute. He took the opportunity to
meet with the communist delegation of ten (10) people to discuss the
issue of peace talks. With Belmonte were House Majority Leader and
Mandaluyong City Representative Neptali Gonzales II, Appropriations
Committee Chair and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, and Accounts
Committee Chair and Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madriona.
The House Speaker was quoted
as saying that “the atmosphere is such that it (peace negotiations)
can still be done during the term of the president… He has other
assistants. I do hope the festering problem will be solved and it can
be solved during the last year in office.”
The favorable atmosphere
includes the openness of the new Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Hernando Iriberi to the resumption of the peace talks. “The AFP
welcomes the government ‘s openness for the revival of the peace talks
with the CPP-NPA,” he said (The Phil Star, p. 9, July 20, 2015).
We hope and pray that this
declaration is not simply a motherhood statement from one who is newly
appointed to a key office because he is expected to say something
positive for the people to court their confidence and support. The
good general knows too well the need “for the peaceful resolution of
conflicts and long term peace in our country” as he has stated.
Another positive note for
peace was the position of the CPP founder Jose Maria Sison declaring
full support to the Philippine government’s move to bring its problem
with China over the West Philippine Sea to the UN ITLoS. He signed the
statement of Filipinos in the Netherlands which said: “We, Filipinos
and friends of the Filipino people in the Netherlands, stand together
in upholding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of our
Motherland, and in defending the Filipino people’s sovereign rights
over their exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf in
the West Philippine Sea, now being illegally claimed and encroached
upon by China.”
On China’s position for a
bilateral talk between the two nations, Sison asked: “How can the
Philippines negotiate with China, which always declares ‘ab initio’
(from the beginning) that it has indisputable sovereignty over 90% of
the entire South China Sea and that in effect the Philippines has no
rights over EEZ and ECS (extended continental shelf)?” Sison is one
with the Philippine government in this stand, and Malacañang
spokespersons appreciate this.
We see one problem, however.
In spite of the feelers sent by top NDFP leaders on their willingness
to resume the stalled peace talks soon, there is no feedback until now
from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
It appears that Sec. Teresita “Ging” Deles is not keen on reopening
the talks. Is she heading the Office of the Presidential Adviser
Against the Peace Process?
Speaker Belmonte himself
expressed surprise at the absence of reaction from OPAPP to the NDFP’s
overtures. Gen. Hernando Iriberri may also get disappointed because
his plan is to work “hand in hand with agencies of government tasked
to lead the talks.” If the primary agency which is OPAPP does not
lead, what can the Filipino people expect?
President Aquino, we
suggest, should seriously consider placing into OPAPP people who will
give him the proper advice (as Speaker Belmonte emphasized, the
President “has other assistants.”) to be able to leave a legacy of
genuine and lasting peace to our beloved country and people. When this
happens, God’s dream for the people may come to pass: “My people will
abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet
resting place” (Isaiah 32:18).
Issued and signed this 22
day of July, 2015.