(We yield this space to the statement of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform due to its timeliness. – Ed.)
WE GRIEVE the passing of former President Fidel V. Ramos on July 31, 2022. The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) extends its deepest sympathies to the members of his bereaved family. His legacy as a minted member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who heeded the clamor of the people at EDSA and his subsequent commitment to attaining true and lasting peace through principled negotiations during his presidency will always shine as bright honors to the Filipino people.
We will continue to uphold the trust and belief he placed in pursuing formal peace talks with various groups seeking different aspirations through arms. During his presidency, the Philippines created the Office of the Presidential Advisor for the Peace Process (OPAPP), through Executive Order 125, which was tasked to promote and pursue peace between the Government and various armed groups. This was a courageous and noble vision which former President Ramos worked to achieve, and which included a Cabinet level post for the Secretary of OPAPP.
He also formed the National Unification Commission (NUC) which was tasked to organize consultations among various sectors throughout the country to arrive at a just and lasting peace for all. These consultations became the basis for his administration’s “6 Paths to Peace”.
We will always admire the quality of understanding he forged for the Peace Process that included confidence building measures and establishing formal joint negotiating frameworks for the different peace talks that the Government pursued. It was during his term as president that the Hague Joint Declaration was formally signed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The Hague Joint Declaration has guided the peace process between these two parties through succeeding administrations.
We will forever hold in our hearts the spirit of perseverance he sustained in pursuing peace by principled dialogue. He had a keen understanding that achieving genuine peace will take time and will have both steps forward as well as setbacks as part of the journey towards the fulfillment of a genuine and lasting peace that addresses the root causes of the conflict. This was articulated succinctly on the occasion of his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 24, 1995, and we quote:
“Ladies and Gentlemen of Congress, if the peace process is to be a test of government’s patience and forbearance, then I assure you we have patience and forbearance enough – and above all, the will to forge a just settlement that will endure.”
Finally, we mourn the loss of an outstanding statesman for peace. An individual who would always welcome peace advocates to his office, an advocate who would travel and give time to speak to venues near and far about peace, and a kind humble human being who lived and dreamed to see peace prevail throughout the Philippines.
