Press Release
April 19, 2011
Lumads take up case of slain Lumad leader, landgrabbing to GPH peace panel
Davao City --- Lumad leaders shared optimism that the government peace negotiators can take up the case of Datu Dominador Diarog, whose 3rd death anniversary is on April 29, remains an unsolved extra-judicial killing linked to a dispute involving the land-grabbing by a powerful religious cult leader. Fresh incidents of land-grabbing coupled with abusive military operations have again been reported early this month in Sitio Kahusayan, Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District, this city.
GPH representative to the peace talks Ednar Dayanghirang in a forum on Land, Life and Justice organized by the Solidarity Action Group for Indigenous Peopls (SAGIP) here at Haran House, UCCP, said he will talk to the Office of the Presidential Affairs for Peace Process (OPAPP) to follow up the case of the 2008 killing of Kahusayan leader Datu Dominador Diarog and the continuing landgrabbing of their ancestral lands by the influential group of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In the past week, lumads from Kahusayan are again restless as 3 backhoes arrived together with a platoon of army soldiers from the 84th Infantry Battalion were deployed to their community, threatening to bulldoze their ancestral lands.
“This renewed attempt to completely drive us away from our ancestral lands is condemnable. We appeal to the conscience of the masterminds behind these landgrabbing attempts to leave us and our land in peace. We also demand that the long overdue resolution of the Davao City Council to remove the barb-wired fences put up by Quiboloy around our peoples’ lands. We have waited long enough and we see no progress in what the Davao City Council has promised to do,” said Diolito Diarog, one of the council leaders of the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumad sa Kahusayan (KSL) and PASAKA spokesperson.
“The pine trees surrounding the palace of Quiboloy and the fences put up to deny us of our access to our traditional hunting grounds, sources of water, have worsened the poverty and hunger we experience. Continued militarization by government troops paid to serve the ones lording over us in Quiboloy’s palace has never since allowed us to live in peace and bounty, affecting our culture, threatening the development of our tribe,” said Diarog. #
For Reference:
DIOLITO DIAROG
Deputy Secretary General
PASAKA
Contact: 09303035126
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Two public SPED centers receive special software, PCs, internet connection
PRESS RELEASE
Two public SPED centers receive special software, PCs, internet connection
from Globe Telecom and Autism Society Philippines
Two of the biggest public Special Education (SPED) Centers in Metro Manila have been awarded desktop computers with special software and free one-year internet connection by Autism Society of the Philippines and Globe Telecom, respectively, to aid children with special learning and communication needs.
P. Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila and P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City were chosen to pilot-test the VizZle visual learning software which will be implemented beginning the incoming school year. An initial batch of 12 teachers, seven from P. Gomez and five from P. Villanueva, already started undergoing training.
P. Gomez SPED Center has 28 teachers taking care of over 400 pupils, about 25 of which have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prior to the entry of Globe and ASP, the school has no computer laboratory. On the other hand, P. Villanueva has 24 SPED teachers handling less than 300 pupils. Its eight PCs were also donated by ASP.
The turnover ceremonies were held as a contribution of Globe and ASP to the fourth annual World Autism Awareness Day which encourages activities that will help increase and develop people’s knowledge of autism and impart information on the importance of its early diagnosis and early intervention.
“I think the next frontier for Globe is providing connectivity for social inclusion. We can begin with special children and later on, maybe also persons with disabilities. The challenge is in finding a way for internet connectivity to be more relevant to special children. That’s why we are glad to work with ASP. We believe that the key to utilizing technology in the school set-up is getting help in delivering the use of technology. Without a systematic or organized way of using the Internet in social institutions like schools, we may not be as successful,” said Jeffrey O. Tarayao, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.
There are currently only 231 public SPED centers in the country with an alarming 25:1 student-teacher ratio. The figure leaves no room for dedicated attention for the unique needs of students which have a mixed host of disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing/speech/visual/physical impairment, among others. Moreover, most of them have outdated, non-functioning computers and non-existent internet connection.
Cristina Estampador, ASP Program Director and Board of Trustees member, said that while VizZle is primarily designed for children with ASD, it can also be customized to fit those with mental and physical disabilities. Through VizZle, she said learning can be made easier and fun since the software delivers the visuals, the auditory and the kinesthetic experience to the students.
ASP, being a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of persons with ASD, was able to acquire a technical grant of two full licenses of VizZle, a multi-awarded visual learning software that has the capability to add video and audio and share lessons across a web-based library. It was created through collaborations with the Monarch Center for Autism and Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School.
PHOTO CAPTION:
P. Villanueva Photo: Globe Head for Corporate Social Responsibility speaks before parents of special children during the turnover of the VizZle visual learning software, desktop computers, and free one-year internet connection to P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City.
P. Gomez Photo: Special children in P. Gomez Elementary School try the desktop computers with newly-installed VizZle visual learning software donated by Autism Society Philippines. Globe Telecom provides internet connectivity.
###
For more information, pls. contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom
Tel. No. 7302627
Fax No. 7393075
Email Address: globe.corpcomm@gmail.com
--
Alya Simone I. Mongaya
Media Relations Assistant Trainee
prworks, inc.
Mobile 09222059443
Tel. +63 32 4134062
Fax +63 32 4167159
prworks.wordpress.com
PRworks Visayas-Mindanao at Facebook.
Two public SPED centers receive special software, PCs, internet connection
from Globe Telecom and Autism Society Philippines
Two of the biggest public Special Education (SPED) Centers in Metro Manila have been awarded desktop computers with special software and free one-year internet connection by Autism Society of the Philippines and Globe Telecom, respectively, to aid children with special learning and communication needs.
P. Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila and P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City were chosen to pilot-test the VizZle visual learning software which will be implemented beginning the incoming school year. An initial batch of 12 teachers, seven from P. Gomez and five from P. Villanueva, already started undergoing training.
P. Gomez SPED Center has 28 teachers taking care of over 400 pupils, about 25 of which have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prior to the entry of Globe and ASP, the school has no computer laboratory. On the other hand, P. Villanueva has 24 SPED teachers handling less than 300 pupils. Its eight PCs were also donated by ASP.
The turnover ceremonies were held as a contribution of Globe and ASP to the fourth annual World Autism Awareness Day which encourages activities that will help increase and develop people’s knowledge of autism and impart information on the importance of its early diagnosis and early intervention.
“I think the next frontier for Globe is providing connectivity for social inclusion. We can begin with special children and later on, maybe also persons with disabilities. The challenge is in finding a way for internet connectivity to be more relevant to special children. That’s why we are glad to work with ASP. We believe that the key to utilizing technology in the school set-up is getting help in delivering the use of technology. Without a systematic or organized way of using the Internet in social institutions like schools, we may not be as successful,” said Jeffrey O. Tarayao, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.
There are currently only 231 public SPED centers in the country with an alarming 25:1 student-teacher ratio. The figure leaves no room for dedicated attention for the unique needs of students which have a mixed host of disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing/speech/visual/physical impairment, among others. Moreover, most of them have outdated, non-functioning computers and non-existent internet connection.
Cristina Estampador, ASP Program Director and Board of Trustees member, said that while VizZle is primarily designed for children with ASD, it can also be customized to fit those with mental and physical disabilities. Through VizZle, she said learning can be made easier and fun since the software delivers the visuals, the auditory and the kinesthetic experience to the students.
ASP, being a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of persons with ASD, was able to acquire a technical grant of two full licenses of VizZle, a multi-awarded visual learning software that has the capability to add video and audio and share lessons across a web-based library. It was created through collaborations with the Monarch Center for Autism and Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School.
PHOTO CAPTION:
P. Villanueva Photo: Globe Head for Corporate Social Responsibility speaks before parents of special children during the turnover of the VizZle visual learning software, desktop computers, and free one-year internet connection to P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City.
P. Gomez Photo: Special children in P. Gomez Elementary School try the desktop computers with newly-installed VizZle visual learning software donated by Autism Society Philippines. Globe Telecom provides internet connectivity.
###
For more information, pls. contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom
Tel. No. 7302627
Fax No. 7393075
Email Address: globe.corpcomm@gmail.com
--
Alya Simone I. Mongaya
Media Relations Assistant Trainee
prworks, inc.
Mobile 09222059443
Tel. +63 32 4134062
Fax +63 32 4167159
prworks.wordpress.com
PRworks Visayas-Mindanao at Facebook.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Cardinal calls for honest, moral government
Cardinal calls for honest, moral government
Published Date: April 20, 2011
CARDINAL Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila, has called on Catholics to pray for and support efforts at “honest and moral governing.”
“New and honest leadership, like the newness of Christ’s Resurrection, ushers hope among those who believe in inspiring service. Pray for and support these efforts for honest and moral governing,” Cardinal Rosales said in his Easter Message issued on Monday.
“The Resurrection of our Lord, beyond a triumph over sin and death, was an opening to a new life, which at its beginning, was difficult to believe in,” he said.
“Any new way of life was hard to accept for anyone, especially if it meant getting rid of one’s selfish and pleasure-seeking ways,” he said.
“The challenge of this new life was to trust in the truthfulness of others which was guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus,” he added.
Cardinal Rosales pointed out that in preparation for Easter, the Philippine people recall the story of God’s love through prayers and devout practices and in singing the passion of Christ in chapels and street corners and also called on priests to be on hand for the large number of people expected to go to confession during Holy Week. He instructed his priests to provide their congregations with a schedule for confession timings.
In the province of Pampanga, meanwhile, tens of thousands of tourists are expected to arrive on Good Friday to witness the traditional reenactment of the crucifixion of Christ.
Report from ucanews.com
Published Date: April 20, 2011
CARDINAL Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila, has called on Catholics to pray for and support efforts at “honest and moral governing.”
“New and honest leadership, like the newness of Christ’s Resurrection, ushers hope among those who believe in inspiring service. Pray for and support these efforts for honest and moral governing,” Cardinal Rosales said in his Easter Message issued on Monday.
“The Resurrection of our Lord, beyond a triumph over sin and death, was an opening to a new life, which at its beginning, was difficult to believe in,” he said.
“Any new way of life was hard to accept for anyone, especially if it meant getting rid of one’s selfish and pleasure-seeking ways,” he said.
“The challenge of this new life was to trust in the truthfulness of others which was guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus,” he added.
Cardinal Rosales pointed out that in preparation for Easter, the Philippine people recall the story of God’s love through prayers and devout practices and in singing the passion of Christ in chapels and street corners and also called on priests to be on hand for the large number of people expected to go to confession during Holy Week. He instructed his priests to provide their congregations with a schedule for confession timings.
In the province of Pampanga, meanwhile, tens of thousands of tourists are expected to arrive on Good Friday to witness the traditional reenactment of the crucifixion of Christ.
Report from ucanews.com
Aquino officials to continue talks with bishops
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Published Date: April 20, 2011
THE government said it still wants to continue dialogues with the Catholic Church on the Responsible Parenthood bill even after President Aquino made a strong pitch for its passage despite opposition from the bishops.
However, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda could not say yet whether the bill would be included in the next Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting.
“This is the strongest statement on responsible parenthood (by the President). He just wants to emphasize that his position on the responsible parenthood bill has not changed.
“He believes that information should be disseminated, he believes in the freedom of each individual, of each parent to make a choice based on (available information). A decision based on informed choice – here we don’t have a problem,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the bill’s exclusion from the priority bills submitted to Congress during the last LEDAC did not mean the President’s position has changed.
Lacierda said Aquino had met with the bishops before and had told them that they should focus on their commonalities because “admittedly, there would really be differences.”
“That’s why the President said even if we had differences, there was nothing wrong in holding dialogues. So we are working on that, we are working on that after the Holy Week, we’ll have dialogue again with the representatives of the Church and discuss further the things that we have in common,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said there was no timetable for the passage of the bill but “definitely within” Aquino’s term.
Report from Philippine Star
smaller font larger font print this article email this article to a friend
Published Date: April 20, 2011
THE government said it still wants to continue dialogues with the Catholic Church on the Responsible Parenthood bill even after President Aquino made a strong pitch for its passage despite opposition from the bishops.
However, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda could not say yet whether the bill would be included in the next Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting.
“This is the strongest statement on responsible parenthood (by the President). He just wants to emphasize that his position on the responsible parenthood bill has not changed.
“He believes that information should be disseminated, he believes in the freedom of each individual, of each parent to make a choice based on (available information). A decision based on informed choice – here we don’t have a problem,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the bill’s exclusion from the priority bills submitted to Congress during the last LEDAC did not mean the President’s position has changed.
Lacierda said Aquino had met with the bishops before and had told them that they should focus on their commonalities because “admittedly, there would really be differences.”
“That’s why the President said even if we had differences, there was nothing wrong in holding dialogues. So we are working on that, we are working on that after the Holy Week, we’ll have dialogue again with the representatives of the Church and discuss further the things that we have in common,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said there was no timetable for the passage of the bill but “definitely within” Aquino’s term.
Report from Philippine Star
Aquino is bad Catholic, says Laguna Church official smaller font larger font print this article email this article to a friend Published Date: April
Aquino is bad Catholic, says Laguna Church official
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is a bad Catholic and his conscience is not well-formed, a Catholic leader in Laguna said on Tuesday in response to the President’s declaration last Sunday ascertaining the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health bill by his administration.
“He is misled,” Father Jerry Oblepias, Laguna diocesan director of the Family Life Ministry, said of the President. “What he is thinking as ways to solve poverty are the easy and lazy ways. He must face the real issue, that we are poor because of bad governance and bad economic policies,” he added.
He said Aquino’s latest declaration was far from his election campaign battle cry: “No corruption, no poverty.”
In a telephone interview, Father Oblepias told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Aquino had a “falsified conscience” and had an utter disrespect for the sentiments of thousands of Catholics around the country who called for rejection of the RH Bill, which they condemned as anti-life and anti-family.
Report from Inquirer.Net
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is a bad Catholic and his conscience is not well-formed, a Catholic leader in Laguna said on Tuesday in response to the President’s declaration last Sunday ascertaining the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health bill by his administration.
“He is misled,” Father Jerry Oblepias, Laguna diocesan director of the Family Life Ministry, said of the President. “What he is thinking as ways to solve poverty are the easy and lazy ways. He must face the real issue, that we are poor because of bad governance and bad economic policies,” he added.
He said Aquino’s latest declaration was far from his election campaign battle cry: “No corruption, no poverty.”
In a telephone interview, Father Oblepias told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Aquino had a “falsified conscience” and had an utter disrespect for the sentiments of thousands of Catholics around the country who called for rejection of the RH Bill, which they condemned as anti-life and anti-family.
Report from Inquirer.Net
EARTHDAY FLUVIAL PROTEST OF ANTI GROUPS SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO DAVAO LGU: “LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE!”
PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 18, 2011
EARTHDAY FLUVIAL PROTEST OF ANTI GROUPS SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO DAVAO LGU: “LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE!”
Davao City – Davao River became the site of anti-coal groups’ protest against Aboitiz’s 300 MW Coal Fired Power Plant today as PANALIPDAN and NO TO COAL commemorated this year’s Earth Day. Boats bearing streamers showed the clear message of the group to the Davao City local government --- “LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE! OPPOSE ABOITIZ’S COAL FIRED POWER PLANT.”
“We hope our leaders will take the essence of the Earth Day to heart – that is to act prudently with the best interest of humanity in mind, in order to mitigate the impacts of our fast deteriorating world and climate. We urge strongly the Davao City Council to junk Aboitiz’s coal project as this would contribute 1.8 M tones of Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere per year, thereby adding further heat to our already feverish planet and alarming changes in climate,” said Francis Morales, secretary general of the environmental rights network PANALIPDAN - SMR.
Morales also lambasted Aboitiz’s claim that the coal plant project will result to lower electricity rates, saying it’s a mere bait to get the public’s approval.
“The deregulated power industry, no thanks to the EPIRA Law makes the government powerless to oblige upon any independent private power producer lower electricity rates. Aboitiz as profit driven company has no genuine concern for the peoples’ welfare. Never in history in the country has coal plant construction resulted to lower electricity rates such as in the case of the Sual Plant in Pangasinan and that of the case in Mauban Quezon,” said Morales.
Morales stressed that the best way to go is to rehabilitate existing power sources from hydro, geothermal and coal plants located in other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Davao City SP Joint Committee has set the final and last hearing on the proposed P 25 B coal plant on the last week of this month or early part of May. This, however is not acceptable to the anti-coal alliance Network Opposed to COAL or NO TO COAL.
“What is the basis of setting another hearing when Aboitiz does not have any data to show yet that there is indeed an energy crisis, that there is a reason for all this hasty moves to approve such deadly source of power? Besides, Aboitiz does not have any Environmental Impact Assessment study yet so how can the Council say that it has any strong bases for approving the coal plant? The trip to STEAG or TOLEDO does not count as anything scientific, rather that trip is clouded with controversy that has not been resolved or investigated upon to date,” said Dr. Jean Lindo, convener of NO TO COAL – DAVAO.
Lindo added that in the past two committee hearings, none of the coal oppositors’ arguments on environmental and health impacts has been refuted by Aboitiz’s “battery of foreign experts.”
“If the members of the council will truly weigh the facts, then Aboitiz’s coal proposal is already a lost case. If a true health and biodiversity resource valuation study will only be conducted, then the council and the public will further see that there is no way we should compromise the welfare of the future generation to Abotiz’s coal plant,” said Lindo.
NO to COAL, members of the Paquibato District Peasant Alliance (PADIPA) together with environmental advocates from the youth and other sectors held a joint cultural program entitled “DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS & CLIMATE JUSTICE” at the Freedom Park. #
FOR REFERENCE:
DR. JEAN LINDO
KAG.FLORA SALANDRON
0918-9298794
APRIL 18, 2011
EARTHDAY FLUVIAL PROTEST OF ANTI GROUPS SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO DAVAO LGU: “LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE!”
Davao City – Davao River became the site of anti-coal groups’ protest against Aboitiz’s 300 MW Coal Fired Power Plant today as PANALIPDAN and NO TO COAL commemorated this year’s Earth Day. Boats bearing streamers showed the clear message of the group to the Davao City local government --- “LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE! OPPOSE ABOITIZ’S COAL FIRED POWER PLANT.”
“We hope our leaders will take the essence of the Earth Day to heart – that is to act prudently with the best interest of humanity in mind, in order to mitigate the impacts of our fast deteriorating world and climate. We urge strongly the Davao City Council to junk Aboitiz’s coal project as this would contribute 1.8 M tones of Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere per year, thereby adding further heat to our already feverish planet and alarming changes in climate,” said Francis Morales, secretary general of the environmental rights network PANALIPDAN - SMR.
Morales also lambasted Aboitiz’s claim that the coal plant project will result to lower electricity rates, saying it’s a mere bait to get the public’s approval.
“The deregulated power industry, no thanks to the EPIRA Law makes the government powerless to oblige upon any independent private power producer lower electricity rates. Aboitiz as profit driven company has no genuine concern for the peoples’ welfare. Never in history in the country has coal plant construction resulted to lower electricity rates such as in the case of the Sual Plant in Pangasinan and that of the case in Mauban Quezon,” said Morales.
Morales stressed that the best way to go is to rehabilitate existing power sources from hydro, geothermal and coal plants located in other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Davao City SP Joint Committee has set the final and last hearing on the proposed P 25 B coal plant on the last week of this month or early part of May. This, however is not acceptable to the anti-coal alliance Network Opposed to COAL or NO TO COAL.
“What is the basis of setting another hearing when Aboitiz does not have any data to show yet that there is indeed an energy crisis, that there is a reason for all this hasty moves to approve such deadly source of power? Besides, Aboitiz does not have any Environmental Impact Assessment study yet so how can the Council say that it has any strong bases for approving the coal plant? The trip to STEAG or TOLEDO does not count as anything scientific, rather that trip is clouded with controversy that has not been resolved or investigated upon to date,” said Dr. Jean Lindo, convener of NO TO COAL – DAVAO.
Lindo added that in the past two committee hearings, none of the coal oppositors’ arguments on environmental and health impacts has been refuted by Aboitiz’s “battery of foreign experts.”
“If the members of the council will truly weigh the facts, then Aboitiz’s coal proposal is already a lost case. If a true health and biodiversity resource valuation study will only be conducted, then the council and the public will further see that there is no way we should compromise the welfare of the future generation to Abotiz’s coal plant,” said Lindo.
NO to COAL, members of the Paquibato District Peasant Alliance (PADIPA) together with environmental advocates from the youth and other sectors held a joint cultural program entitled “DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS & CLIMATE JUSTICE” at the Freedom Park. #
FOR REFERENCE:
DR. JEAN LINDO
KAG.FLORA SALANDRON
0918-9298794
‘Give this peace process a chance’ – GPH panel
‘Give this peace process a chance’ – GPH panel
Manila, Apr. 19 – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel negotiating with the National Democratic Front (NDF) is calling for support of the peace process with the communist group despite issues of insincerity clouding the talks.
“Give this peace process a chance,” said GPH peace panel member Ednar Dayanghirang during a recent forum with around 40 masteral students in National Security Administration (MNSA) at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) in Camp Aguinaldo.
Some MNSA students raised doubts on the negotiations because of alleged sincerity issues of the NDF in completing a political settlement with the government.
Dayanghirang, however, encouraged them to trust the peace process and stated that the political climate is favorable for the peace talks, adding that negotiations with the NDF “is not just dribbling the ball.”
“We are on track,” he said referring to current progress of talks with the NDF.
Meanwhile, government peace panel Senior Military Adviser BGen. Reynaldo Ordoñez likewise called for support for the negotiations saying “Maraming agam-agam sa peace process (there are many doubts on the peace process), but let’s give it a chance.”
“Let us pursue the peace process regardless of the sincerity of the other party. Dialogues open up opportunities which were not there,” continued Ordoñez.
Ordoñez further called for confidence in the government panel and its ability to achieve a political settlement with the NDF.
After seven years of impasse, peace talks between the GPH and the CPP-NPA-NDF formally resumed last February in Oslo, Norway where both parties agreed to establish an 18-month timeframe for the negotiations.
Currently, the GPH panel seeks inputs from stakeholders in drafting the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER), one of three key agreements that the panel seeks to complete with the National Democratic Front (NDF). The first CASER consultation is tentatively set on April 26 in Lacub, Abra. #
Manila, Apr. 19 – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel negotiating with the National Democratic Front (NDF) is calling for support of the peace process with the communist group despite issues of insincerity clouding the talks.
“Give this peace process a chance,” said GPH peace panel member Ednar Dayanghirang during a recent forum with around 40 masteral students in National Security Administration (MNSA) at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) in Camp Aguinaldo.
Some MNSA students raised doubts on the negotiations because of alleged sincerity issues of the NDF in completing a political settlement with the government.
Dayanghirang, however, encouraged them to trust the peace process and stated that the political climate is favorable for the peace talks, adding that negotiations with the NDF “is not just dribbling the ball.”
“We are on track,” he said referring to current progress of talks with the NDF.
Meanwhile, government peace panel Senior Military Adviser BGen. Reynaldo Ordoñez likewise called for support for the negotiations saying “Maraming agam-agam sa peace process (there are many doubts on the peace process), but let’s give it a chance.”
“Let us pursue the peace process regardless of the sincerity of the other party. Dialogues open up opportunities which were not there,” continued Ordoñez.
Ordoñez further called for confidence in the government panel and its ability to achieve a political settlement with the NDF.
After seven years of impasse, peace talks between the GPH and the CPP-NPA-NDF formally resumed last February in Oslo, Norway where both parties agreed to establish an 18-month timeframe for the negotiations.
Currently, the GPH panel seeks inputs from stakeholders in drafting the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER), one of three key agreements that the panel seeks to complete with the National Democratic Front (NDF). The first CASER consultation is tentatively set on April 26 in Lacub, Abra. #
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