Philippine church groups renew call for resumption of
peace talks
A file photo shows a priest holding a placard calling for peace during a demonstration in the Philippine capital in 2017. (Photo by Mark Saludes)
Mark Saludes - LiCAS.news
August 13, 2020
Church groups in the Philippines renewed calls for the resumption of
the stalled peace process between the government and communist rebels
following the killing of a rebel peace consultant.
The groups said it is high time for the government and the rebels to
go back to the negotiating table and “give the country a chance for
genuine peace.”
“In a time of great uncertainty because of the Covid-19 pandemic,
peace should be the balm to heal our land,” read a statement from the
Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform.
The group called on all stakeholders to “tirelessly seek and pursue.”
They condemned the killing of 72-year old Randall Echanis, a
consultant of the rebel peace panel during the talks. The church
leaders said Echanis is a “great loss” for the peace process.
“As church leaders working for just and enduring peace, we demand an
immediate impartial investigation … on the tragic killing of [Echanis]
and we pray that justice be served,” read the statement.
Echanis was killed inside a rented house in Quezon City by still
unidentified assailants on August 10.
Philippine Independent Church Father Dionito Cabillas, lead convener
of the ecumenical group Isaiah Ministry, said the resumption of the
peace talks “would allow the country to heal faster from the
pandemic.”
“The continuation of the talks that could lead to the cessation of
armed conflict could help the entire country focus on how to combat
the pandemic,” he said.
The priest urged the government and the communist-rebels “to exhaust”
all possible avenues to “create an environment” that would allow them
to go back to the negotiations.
On Nov. 22, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 360
declaring the termination of the peace negotiations.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, chairman of the Commission on
Social Action, Justice, and Peace of the Catholic bishops’ conference,
urged the government and the communist rebels to “allow peace
negotiations at the local level.”
In a text message sent to LiCAS.news, the prelate said it is high time
to “involve and empower local leaders” of both parties to address
local conflict issues.
The prelate said that stakeholders at the local level “know the
particular situation” and the involvement of other sectors, including
the church, could be made possible.
Among those who signed the statement were Archbishop Antonio Ledesma,
retired prelate of Cagayan de Oro, Anglican Bishop Rex Reyes of the
Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Protestant Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza of
the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Rev. Aldrin
Penamora of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, and
Benedictine Sister Mary John Mananzan of the Association of Major
Religious Superiors of the Philippines. xxxx
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