The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP)*, is alarmed over the harassment of two of our Core Group members, Bishop Felixberto Calang and Fr. Christopher Ablon of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). Their names were listed, along with other members of the clergy, peace advocates and human rights defenders, as “terrorist members of the New People’s Army and Communist Party of the Philippines” in two sets of flyers that were anonymously distributed last February 22 in Cagayan de Oro City. We have reason to be alarmed for such accusation is baseless, malicious and dangerous.
As modern-day prophets, Bp. Calang and Fr. Ablon have dedicated their lives and ministry to continuously preach and pursue just and lasting peace so the love of God – richly deserved by our people, especially the least of our brothers and sisters – may reign. Bp. Calang is also the spokesperson of Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao, a network of civil society groups in the said island, that was recently awarded with the 1st Gawad AKAP Award by the Rotary Club of Fort Bonifacio Global City in behalf of the Rotary International District 3830. Others who were recognized and honored for their active pursuit of peace include such distinguished peacemakers like Bp. Fernando Capalla, former OPAPP Sec. Jesus Dureza, DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello, head of the Peace Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), Mr. Mohagher Igbal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and peace panel consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Mr. Rey Claro Casambre of the Philippine Peace Center and Mr. Randy Malayao. Mr. Casambre sadly remains incarcerated based on trumped up charges while Mr. Malayao was recently killed by an assassin.
Since the cancellation of the peace talks last year, violent encounters between the parties have increased, the arrests and even killing of peace advocates are rising; the language of punishing student scholars for their activism is disturbing; new raids and the burning of equipment have surfaced; vandalizing of church property and the circulating of lists that falsely accuse church leaders/workers of supporting terrorists are a new and dangerous development.
Such incidents and acts lessened when the Peace Talks were ongoing. While the claims of success through the alleged surrendering of combatants were made, the PEPP believes that unless the root causes of the conflict are addressed we have no guarantee that these combatants will not return to war after they have exhausted their monetary and material gifts.
The possibility of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to turn the situation around and return to his commitment to leave a legacy of genuine and lasting Peace through dialogue is still doable and viable. During his term, the gains in the peace negotiations have been unprecedented. The drafts on a ceasefire agreement and social and economic reforms have reached a common consensus between the GRP and NDFP Peace Panels. Tragically, all has changed since the cancellation of the GRP-NDFP Peace Talks last year.
We therefore appeal to the Filipino people to speak as one voice for peace and to stand with PEPP as we call upon the GRP and NDFP Peace Panels to return to the peace process and enable the peace talks to resume. Let us also call for an end to the listing of peace advocates and church workers like Bp. Calang and Fr. Ablon alleging them to be supporting terrorists. Let us hope and pray that a solution can be achieved to stop this impasse. Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). Let us all affirm this beatitude and work together to build bridges instead of walls for the peace process.
Issued and signed on this day 5thMarch 2019.
ARCHBISHOP ANTONIO J. LEDESMA, S.J., D.D.
Co-chairperson, PEPP
Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City
REV. FR. REX R.B REYES, JR.
Co-chairperson, PEPP
National Council of Churches in the Philippines
BISHOP DEOGRACIAS S. INIGUEZ, JR. D.D
PEPP Head of Secretariat
Ecumenical Bishops Forum
BISHOP NOEL A. PANTOJA
National Director
Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches
SR. MARY JOHN D. MANANZAN, OSB
OWGC-AMRSP
