Unity Statement

Resume Formal Peace Talks Now!

We are advocates of genuine peace, a lasting peace based on freedom, democracy and social justice.

We want the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines  (NDFP) to resume and proceed in earnest.  We strongly call on the GRP and  the NDFP to immediately resume formal talks on the basis of The Hague Joint  Declaration of 1992 and other past agreements that have proven to be  workable and mutually acceptable.

We share their avowed common goals: “The resolution of the armed conflict and the attainment of a just and lasting peace.” We believe that this can come about only with basic social, economic and political reforms that  address the roots of the armed conflict and benefit the majority of the  people.

We strongly urge both Parties to immediately and fully implement the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International  Humanitarian Law.  This will serve as a goodwill and confidence-building  measure, and mitigate the destruction and suffering directly and indirectly  brought about by war.

We deeply deplore the trend to abandon peace negotiations in favor of purely military solutions.  More than a year has passed since the formal talks were recessed, and the Macapagal-Arroyo government has indefinitely suspended  these formal talks last March.

Even as we condemn all forms of terrorism, we are gravely concerned that the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s all-out support for the US “war on terror” and its “all-out war” against the CPP-NPA-NDF will jeopardize the peace negotiations. Both policies foreclose any hope of resolving the armed  conflict through peaceful means.

We decry what we perceive as US interference in our internal affairs.  We are troubled by possible US violations of Philippine sovereignty, including increased US military presence and activity, and its threat to unilaterally take punitive actions against alleged Filipino terrorists.

We ask the government to reconsider its official policy of welcoming the US designation of the CPP-NPA-NDF as a terrorist organization, in view of its dire effects on the peace negotiations.

We welcome the positive role of the Dutch, Belgian and Norwegian governments in facilitating the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. We urge them to continue  supporting these negotiations and to uphold the European Parliament  resolutions endorsing and supporting these negotiations.

We believe that the Filipino people shall decide their own destiny as a  nation and thereby attain their aspirations for a just and lasting peace.

List of initial signatories:

1.      His Excellency, Vice-President Teofisto Guingona

2.      Rep. Nerios Acosta ( 1st District, Bukidnon)

3.      Rep. Agapito Aquino (2nd District, Makati)

4.      Rep. Satur C. Ocampo (BAYAN MUNA Party List)

5.      Rep. Liza Maza (BAYAN MUNA Party List)

6.      Rep. Crispin Beltran (BAYAN MUNA Party List)

7.      Rep. Apolinario Lozada (5th District, Negros >Occidental)

8.      Rep. Florencio Abad (Lone District, Batanes)

9.      Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez (Bishop of Iba, Zambales; Co-Chairperson,  Ecumenical Bishops Forum)

10.    Bishop Ignacio Soliba (Prime Bishop, Episcopal Church in the  Philippines)

11.    Bishop Mike Yamoyam (Episcopal Church in the Philippines)

12.    Bishop Leo Soriano (United Methodist Church-Davao Episcopal Area)

13.    Bishop Alan Ray Sarte (United Church of Christ in the Philippines)

14.    Former Senator Wigberto Tañada

15.    Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda

16.    Rev. Dr. Domingo Diel Jr. (Chairperson, National Council of Churches in the Philippines)

17.    Rev. Rebecca C. Tiston (Chairperson, United Church of Christ in the Philippines)

18.    Dr. Jose Abueva  (former President, University of the Philippines)

19.    Dr. Jose Endriga (Vice President for Public Affairs, University of  the Philippines)

20.    Mr. Rey Casambre (Executive Director, Philippine Peace Center)

21.    Atty. Alexander Padilla

22.    Maria Socorro Diokno (Executive Director, Free Legal Assistance  Group)

23.    Ms. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes (General Secretary, 

          National  Council of Churches in the  Philippines)

24.     Fr. Joe Dizon (KAIROS Philippines)

25.     Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo (BAYAN / Plunder Watch)

26.     Teddy Casiño (BAYAN)

27.     Rafael Mariano (BAYAN, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas)

28.     Sammy Malunes (Kilusang Mayo Uno)

29.     Director Behn Cervantes (Concerned Artists of the Philippines)

30.     Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera (UP Diliman)

31.     Prof. Cynthia Lumbera (Ateneo de Manila University)

32.     Dean Angelito Manalili (College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman)

33.     Karen Tañada (Gaston Z. Ortigas Institute)

34.     Pastor Boy Saycon (Council for Philippine Affairs)

35.     Maita Gomez

36.     Linda Montayre

37.     Fr. Tomas Maddela (Episcopal Church in the Philippines)

38.     Rev. Jepah Aniceto (Iglesia Evangelica Methodista En Las Islas  Filipinas)

39.     Sr. Mary James Miyas, OSB

40.     Sr. Ma. Rosali Fajardo, OSB

41.     Post. Frances Sampal, OSB

42.     Sr. Angelita Navarro, ICM

43      Sr. Ma. Editha Roa, RVM

44.     Sr. Ma. Perla Balbastro, DC

45.     Sr. Xavier Bual, SPC

46.     Sr. M.T. Cristobal, FMA

47.     Sr. Judy Vergara, SSJ

48.     Sr. Arabella Balingao, RGS

49.     Elisa Tita Lubi (GABRIELA)

50.     Amado Gat Inciong

50.     Dr. June Pagaduan-Lopez (College of Medicine, UP Manila)

51.     Prof. Ma. Milagros Laurel (University of the Philippines)

52.     Filomeno Sta. Ana III (Action for Economic Reforms)

53.     Fr. Charly Ricafort, OSC (Vice-Chairperson, Task Force on Urban Conscientization, 

          AMRSP Mission Partner)

54.     Fr. Aristelo Miranda, OSC (Rector, Order of St. Camillus Seminary)

55.     Rommel Romato (Chairperson, UP Diliman University Student Council)

56.     Cosain Naga (Moro Christian People’s Alliance)

57.     Marie Hilao Enriquez (KARAPATAN)

58.     Chikoy Pura (The Jerks, Musicians for Peace)

59.     Prof. Monico Atienza (UP Diliman)

60.     Prof. Dante Ambrosio (UP Diliman)

61.     Prof. Doroteo Abaya (UP Manila)

62.     Prof. Elmer Ordoñez (IBON)

63.     Dr. Cora Rivera (Plunder Watch)

64.     Chit Agcaoili

65.     Councilor Nathanael Santiago (Secretary General, Bayan Muna)

66.     Fr. Jerry Sabado, O’Carm

67.     Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, OFM (Spokesperson, Promotion of Church  People’s Response)

68.     Amie Dural (Deputy Secretary, Promotion of Church People’s Response)

69.     Dr. Joseph Carabeo (Health Alliance for Democracy)

70.     Atty. Edre Olalia (Public Interest Law Center)

71.     Atty. Jayson Lamchek (Public Interest Law Center)

72.     Prof. Judy Taguiwalo (Congress of Teachers for Nationalism and  Democracy, UP Diliman)

73.     Prof. Danilo Arao (Congress of Teachers for Nationalism and Democracy, UP Diliman)

74.     Norma Dollaga (General Secretary, Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan)

75.     Bayani Alonzo (Student Christian Movement of the Philippines)

76.     Biyaya Quizon (Kalipunan ng mga Kabataang Kristyano sa Pilipinas)

77.     Rex Lores (Representative of Sen. Loren Legarda)

78.     Julie Po (Concerned Artists of the Philippines)

79.     Roland Simbulan (Nuclear Free Philippines Coalition)

80.     Raul Segovia (CACP)

82.     Manuel Sarmiento (Kilusang Mayo Uno)

83.     Marie Hilao Enriquez (KARAPATAN)

84.     Ferdinand Gaite (COURAGE)

85.     Fides Lim (Bayan Muna)

and over 200 individuals representing the church, academe and  multi-sectoral groups

Read related article: Calls for Peace

Bulatlat.com

We want to know what you think of this article.