Legarda declares support for peace talks with Reds

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda pushed for the continuation of peace talks between the government and communist rebels in a statement to mark the 25th year of a key agreement both camps entered into in 1992. 

President Rodrigo Duterte declared an end to the talks following an incident between the rebels and his own security aides in North Cotabato, the second time he scrapped the peace process this year. Advocates continue to hope he can be persuaded again to resume it. 

“As someone who has been involved in negotiating releases of captives by the New People’s Army (NPA) when I was a neophyte senator, I have seen the sincerity of all sides to this conflict and have witnessed the intense desire for peace,” Legarda said in a statement on Saturday, September 2. 

The agreement that kickstarted the talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – The Hague Joint Declaration – was signed on September 1, 1992 during the presidency of Fidel Ramos. It set the framework of the peace negotiations that aim for “just and lasting peace.” 

The CPP is represented by its political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF), on the peace table. 

“We all desire for peace. We may have different views on how to pursue national development, but I believe we can find our common ground with the help of The Hague Joint Declaration,” Legarda said.

She also highlighted the following provision in the agreement:

The holding of peace negotiations must be in accordance with mutually acceptable principles, including national sovereignty, democracy and social justice and no precondition shall be made to negate the inherent character and purpose of the peace negotiations. 

Several other agreements have been signed since, including the Joint Agreement on Securities and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agremeent on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL). 

They were hoping to sign a critical agreement, the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reform (CASER), that is considered the heart and soul of the peace talks when it hit another impasse. 

Legarda had been involved in the releases of military and police officials held captive by the NPA, the armed component of the CPP, including General Victor Obillo, Captain Eduardo Montealto, Sergeant Alpio Lozada, Major Roberto Bernal and then Major Noel Buan.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda also said the national budget would support the social agenda reform pushed in the talks.

“Many of the items in the social reform agenda can already be addressed through existing laws and programs. We also have several proposed measures in the Senate that would support these programs. We just have to pursue peace for the sake of the millions of Filipinos who will benefit from a peaceful and progressive nation,” Legarda said. – Rappler.com