MANILA – Six Western Visayas-based lawmakers were among 60 House members who urged President Rodrigo Duterte to resume the government’s peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF).
They were representatives Emmanuel Billones (Capiz, 1st District), Carlito Marquez (Aklan), Leo Cueva (Negros Occidental, 2nd District), Melecio Yap Jr. (Negros Occidental, 1st District), Raul Tupas (Iloilo, 5th District), and Juliet Marie Ferrer (Negros Occidental, 4th District).
In House Resolution 1803, the solons urged Duterte to go on with peace negotiations and comprehensive agreements on social, economic and political reforms – which were seen to lay the foundations of a “just and lasting peace.”
The resolution stated that the current administration and the NDF have reached a “remarkable and unparalleled headway” when it comes to peace negations, having been able to hold four successful rounds.
“Continuing the peace talks would benefit the Filipino people, most of whom are poor peasants and workers, as the agreements on agrarian reform and national industrialization may address their issues and concerns and help provide relief for their economic hardships,” part of the resolution read.
Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list) said the support of fellow lawmakers to the resolution is “very encouraging” in convincing the Duterte administration to resume the talks.
“The best government policy to deal with the root causes of the armed conflict is through the peace talks and in implementing genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization,” Zarate added. “We are calling on all peace loving people to intensify our earnest call for the government and NDF to give the quest for a just and lasting peace a chance. This is not the time to abandon it, for the greater interest of our country and people.”
In November last year, Duterte has signed Proclamation No. 360, terminating the peace negotiations between the government and NDF.
Among those that were supposed to be discussed in the peace talks were the comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms, agreements on general amnesty and release of all political prisoners, and the coordinated unilateral ceasefires./PN
