A FIST FOR CHANGE At least 30,000 people join a rally supporting peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the communist movement’s political wing, at Rizal Park in Davao City on Monday. KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO
DAVAO CITY—At least 30,000 farmers, lumad (indigenous) people and Left-wing activists marched on the streets here on Tuesday to praise the peace-building efforts of the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, the city’s outgoing mayor.
In a video message shown during a forum later, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison wished Duterte success as he welcomed the largest show of support for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the CPP-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
“Two days from now, when he takes his oath of office, we wish him success in all his efforts to serve the Filipino people,” Sison told the forum participants at Almendras Gym here.
Silvestre Bello III, the incoming head of the government panel negotiating peace with the NDFP, said the resumption of the peace negotiations was tentatively set either for July 16-19 or July 23-26, in Oslo, Norway.
Duterte was expected to appear during the gathering, but he and his security detail were not there as of early last night.
Prospects bright
Fidel Agcaoili, NDFP spokesperson who attended the forum, said prospects were bright that a peace agreement would be signed during the Duterte administration.
“He called himself Left, a socialist, and with that, we trust that he will push for social justice,” Agcaoili said. “[We trust Duterte] to forge reforms—socioeconomic reforms, political and constitutional reforms—so that we can finally move on to end hostilities and disposition of forces.”
“We hope fervently this time that something will happen,” he said. “Then we can truly say that this is a government of reconciliation and national unity.”
Duterte plays a crucial role in achieving lasting peace in Mindanao, Sison said.
10-point agenda
A 10-point Mindanao Peace Agenda to be presented to Duterte and described as “actionable” during the first 100 days of his administration will be tackled during the forum, said Sheena Duazo, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
The peace agenda includes:
Implementation of genuine agrarian reform.
Implementation of national industrialization and genuine and ecologically sound development.
Generation of decent employment to ensure security of tenure and promote workers’ rights.
Upholding of social, economic and democratic rights and welfare for women, urban poor, teachers and the transport sector.
Respect for the rights of national minorities.
Adoption of a nationalist, scientific and propeople culture.
Adoption of a foreign relations policy based on sovereignty.
Pursuit of full accountability of public officials and ending corruption.
Upholding of equitable resource allocation for the people of Mindanao from the national budget and promote democratic consultations on federalism.
Promotion of propeople and proenvironment proposals, and plans to develop small and medium enterprises.
Slain NPA leader
Sison remembered slain New People’s Army (NPA) leader Leoncio Pitao, alias Commander Parago, who died a year ago in the hinterlands of Paquibato District here.
Some 100 marchers wore masks featuring the face of Pitao. A huge streamer read, “You may kill the revolutionary but not the revolution,” while others called on the government to resume peace talks and to free political detainees.
Agcaoili offered a few minutes of silence to remember Pitao and all the fallen heroes who fought for national democracy.