Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP)
March 26, 2020

Ref: Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, DD,
Tel. # 09177110563
Bishop Rex B. Reyes, Jr.
Tel.# 09956395909

“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) welcomes the announcement of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) of a unilateral ceasefire starting on March 26 to April 15, 2020. This declaration comes after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire which started last March 19 and will also last till April 15.

The PEPP appreciates the commitment of both parties to halt hostilities, even for just a brief period, in order to address the COVID 19 pandemic. The parties’ separate declarations also address the call of the United Nations for a global ceasefire. Peace, however fragile, is very much needed in these trying times.

We hope that these unilateral ceasefire declarations will be faithfully observed by each party, especially on the ground and let peace serve the healing.

We also call on the government to exercise its magnanimity and release on humanitarian grounds political prisoners especially the sick and the elderly, like Rey Claro Casambre of the Philippine Peace Center, and other NDFP consultants. The sick and elderly prisoners are the most vulnerable to COVID 19.

In this season of Lent, let us reflect and pray that we will overcome this health crisis. We hope that after this predicament, the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations will prosper and peace will be had by all in our country.

Let the healing begin.

Issued and signed on this day 26th day of March 2020

ARCHBISHOP ANTONIO J. LEDESMA, DD.,SJ
Co-chair, PEPP

THE RT.REVD. REX B. REYES, JR.
Co-chair, PEPP

BISHOP NOEL A. PANTOJA
Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches

BISHOP DEOGRACIAS S. INIGUEZ, JR., DD
Ecumenical Bishops Forum

SR. MARY JOHN D. MANANZAN, OSB
Women and Gender Commission, AMRSP

*The PEPP is a platform for 5 church institutions/groups, namely, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) with organizations of Religious, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) and the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF), in working for a just and enduring peace by supporting the peace process between the GRP-NDFP.