The plenary hall of the House of Representatives. (Photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Updated: 11:43 p.m., Feb. 9, 2017
Vice President Leni Robredo and more than a third of the members of the House of Representatives on Thursday asked President Duterte not to waste the gains so far made in peace talks with the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and urged him to return to the negotiating table.
In a resolution filed by the militant Makabayan bloc on Thursday, 103 lawmakers, including three Deputy Speakers, appealed to the President to consider “the unprecedented and significant advances made on the substantive agenda of the negotiations for the benefit of the Filipino people.”
The resolution was authored by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, and Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao.
It was supported by at least 96 other lawmakers – 30 members of party-list groups, 42 representatives from Luzon, 11 from the Visayas, and 20 from Mindanao.
The resolution said it would be a shame to end the peace negotiations considering the “remarkable and unparalleled headway” that had been made.
“Terminating the same would only put to waste the unprecedented, positive and substantial gains the peace talks have reached,” it added.
Rome agreement
In their third round of formal talks held in Rome late last month, the two sides agreed in principle on free land distribution to farmers and farm workers and support for federalism being pushed by the President. They also planned to discuss a possible bilateral truce later this month.
However, the communist rebels last week announced they were terminating their unilateral ceasefire this Friday, accusing the government of reneging on a promise to release hundreds of political prisoners and of violating its own truce.
People’s desire
In an immediate and angry response, Mr. Duterte ended the government’s unilateral ceasefire and terminated the talks, which he said would not be reopened “unless there is a compelling reason that will benefit the nation.”
The NDFP has not formally withdrawn from the talks. It said the negotiations could continue even without a ceasefire.
“It is highly imperative that this Congress hear the Filipino people’s desire to support the resumption of the peace negotiations. It is just and lasting peace itself that is the very compelling reason to continue the peace negotiations,” the lawmakers said in their resolution.
Robredo said the two sides should pursue the peace negotiations.
“It’s sad that when our hopes were high that something good would come out of the peace talks, these things happened,” she told a news conference. “I hope both parties will not stop trying to find common ground.”
Robredo said the government’s decision to cancel the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) was a major setback to the talks.
“The Jasig cancellation is a big deal in the sense that the next question is, since it has been canceled, it seems like you are removing your recognition of them (NDFP) as the ones who should be negotiating,” she said.
“The question is: Is the cancellation tantamount to the termination of talks? I hope not,” Robredo said.
Safe conduct
The cancellation of the Jasig strips NDFP negotiators and the staff of their safe conduct, clearing the way for their arrest.
The government has launched a hunt for rebel leaders who had participated in the talks.
Episcopalian Bishop Felixberto Calang, convenor of the peace group Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao, also said talks should continue even without a truce.
The experience under the Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo administrations has shown that it is possible for both sides to talk while fighting.
“We believe it is still possible for the negotiations to continue even if armed skirmishes will serve as a thorny backdrop to the talks,” Calang said.
He said it was important that “there is no cessation of the talks even if it seems difficult at the moment to realize a cessation of hostilities.”
Peter Laviña, a former spokesperson for Mr. Duterte and one of his ardent supporters, said the President was “justified” in ending the talks after rebels killed three soldiers in Bukidnon last week, but the two sides have to resume the talks.
“We have to end the internal conflict, or our country will not move forward,” said Laviña, who now heads the National Irrigation Administration. —With reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Jigger Jerusalem, Allan Nawal, Frinston Lim And Williamor Magbanua /ATM