103 congressmen support continuation of peace talks

Over a third of the 293-member House of Representatives don’t want to see the total collapse of the peace talks between the Philippine government and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Yesterday, members of the leftist Makabayan bloc led the filing of House Resolution (HR) No.769, which urges President Duterte to continue the peace negotiations between the government and the Reds “considering the unprecedented and significant advances made on the substantive agenda of the negotiations for the benefit of the Filipino people.”

A total of 103 congressmen across several party lines have signed the resolution as of the time of filing.

Affixing their signatures to the resolution were 30 party-lists solons, 20 district solons from Mindanao, 11 from Visayas and 42 from Luzon.

Three deputy speakers – Eric Singson (Ilocos Sur, 2nd District), Ferdinand Hernandez (South Cotabato, 2nd District) and Bai Sandra Sema (Maguindanao, 1st District) – co-authored the measure.

The resolution noted that on February 5, 2017, Duterte announced the termination of the peace negotiations between the NDFP and GRP “unless there is a compelling reason that will benefit the nation.”

This was after both parties lifted their respective unilateral ceasefire declarations.

The NDFP is the negotiating arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has engaged the government in a bloody insurgency spanning nearly five decades.

In an unprecedented move, the Duterte administration also terminated the 1995 Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) which has been a longstanding governing mechanism for the peace talks. This has supposedly set the stage for an all-out war.

But author Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna partylist insisted that all is not lost, especially since it will take 30 days before the JASIG cancellation to take effect.

“May nakikita pa kaming puwang na mabalik sa track ang peace process between the GRP and NDFP (There is a still a chance for the peace talks between the GRP and NDFP to get back on track),” the Makabayan member said in a press conference.

“At kailangang samantalahin natin ang opportunity na ito upang maipakita na mayroong malawak na panawagan sa ating mamamayan, kahit na dito sa loob ng Kongreso maibalik ang usaping pang-kapayapaan.” (And we have to take advantage of this opportunity to show that there is a huge clamor from the people and even Congress to return to the negotiating table.)

The leftist solons – who are identified with the CPP – have expressed regret over the possible wastage of the huge gains achieved by both panels in the peace talks.

“It should be emphasized, as compared to previous administrations, that the peace negotiations under the Duterte administration have reached remarkable and unparalleled headway; terminating the same would only put to waste the unprecedented, positive and substantial gains the peace talks have reached,” the resolution read.

The GRP and NDFP peace talks have reached three rounds under the sevenmonth Duterte administration. Until recently, the President has been pictured as very friendly toward the left.

For Zarate, the hope of peace still blooms.

“As of now the next round of talks are up in the air. It’s in their schedule, hopefully it pushes through. I hope they give it a chance,” he said.