Love and peace

Is love in the air? Maybe more on the airwaves, as love is the theme of TV ads like Jollibee, making kilig while at the same time killing us with cholesterol. Nakakataba ang pag-ibig. If peace talks were like that Jollibee ad, heto: “Naalala ko, sa Davao City pa lang, sinabi ko, this is the one.” “Peace talks tayo and let’s walk the extra mile.” If only peace talks would be one-liners.

Joma Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultant, is reaching out to President Rodrigo Duterte with a statement after the President called off peace talks.

“I can understand the role of President Duterte in reacting as GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) president and commander-in-chief,” Sison said, referring to Duterte’s anger that soldiers were killed during operations against the New People’s Army in areas in Mindanao.

“It is his duty to speak and act in the interest of the GRP and express concern for his troops. But there should have been a measure of restraint in his reaction in order to preserve the GRP-NDF peace process,” he added.

Sison has on occasions talked via Skype with Duterte, who was his former student in Lyceum University. In their talks during the election campaign, Duterte promised to pursue peace talks and asked his professor to come home once peace is achieved.

Their last talk in December discussed matters such as amnesty for political prisoners and a coalition under a new federal republic, one of the campaign promises of Duterte. The professor asked Duterte to “consult thoroughly with his negotiating panel and the peace advocates in his own Cabinet and others outside of his government, and encourage and allow back-channeling efforts to clarify misunderstandings and solve immediately the current problems. The third party facilitator deserves a briefing from each negotiating party and may also help to enable the continuance of the peace process.”

These words from Duterte’s professor strike a balanced and collected effort to bring back Duterte to the peace table. He noted efforts are made by all sides to discuss matters of peace, from economic reforms for the poor, to a bilateral ceasefire, and the end of hostilities by 2022.

Minsan, ang peace talks ay parang paghusay nga mag-asawang nagkahiwalay. Masalimuot. May walk-out. Pero mag-usap ulit. Sana may ending.

And peace is not just the concern of two parties warring with each other. To date, there are 103 lawmakers who have signed a resolution urging Duterte to resume the peace talks.

Yesterday, Davawenyos and groups such as Gabriela, Exodus for Justice and Peace launched peace rallies at Freedom Park at 3 p.m. The annual One Billion Rising dance for justice this Valentine’s Day campaigned for the resumption of peace talks at Rizal Park at 1 to 5 p.m.

“The true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.” - Che Guevara-- from SunStar Davao