CALOOCAN CITY, Sept. 22 (PIA) -- Organizers of the Yes For Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan on Monday called for the shift from commemorating a dark and still controversial and divisive period in the Philippines' history, to celebrating the International Day of Peace observed globally every Sept. 21.
“The division of the Filipino people on a tragic but certainly not a forgettable part of our history as well as the use of armed violence, deception and coercion in the furtherance of a revolution supposedly for the Filipino people must now end,” Ernesto Angeles Alcanzare, Lead Organizer of Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan told the PIA-NCR.
“Peace is the desire of every beating heart. Peace is the hope of every nation, the promise of every politician, the pulse of every religious tradition, the goal of every prayer. Peace is the bold, courageous and ultimate response to the notion that violence provides any viable solution for the conflicts of our world,” Alcanzare quoted the United Nations General Assembly in declaring Sept. 21 as the International Day of Peace.
"Unfortunately, September 21 is a day when the Filipino people are once again divided between those who believe in recent history books written by the victors of the bloodless 1986 People Power Revolution and those who also lived through Martial Law and, contrary to what have been written, actually have good memories about the period dreaded and hated by those who are, until now, calling for and waging an armed revolution to overthrow a duly elected government," he added.
For his part, Mama S. Lalanto, al Haj strongly suggested that, "Instead of crying out loud to high heavens denouncing events that we can no longer change but must learn to accept in our recent history, it would be better for the Filipino people if we can refocus our individual and collective energies in supporting the ideals of peace, today, the International Day of Peace, as declared by the United Nations.”
“I hope and pray that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and self-declared vanguards of the Filipino people, the CPP-NPA-NDF are aware of the significance of this day and therefore observe 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire,” said Commissioner Yusoph Mando of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, for his part.
Moreover, lawyer Domingo Ballais Alidon, president of the 40,000-strong Department of Education National Employees Union (DepEd NEU) said, “It is quite unfortunate if they are unaware of the International Day of Peace since they both invoke the United Nations’ resolutions in arguing for their respective positions in what is now the longest running insurgency.”
For her part, Alpha Dasmarinas, Yes for Peace coordinator, said both the government and the CPP-NDF-NPA are bound by the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHR-IHL), a landmark agreement between the Philippine Government and the communists that contains the finest principles of human rights and international humanitarian law found in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and in various international instruments on human rights and international humanitarian law.
For his part, Salvador Villasis, an incorporator of Yes for Peace, Incorporated said, “Pursuant to the National Action Plan (NAP) of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) approved by President [Rodrigo Roa] Durterte, we are now in the process of refining the Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan campaign in compliance with the general guidance and advise given [National Security Adviser] Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Vice Chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC.”
To recall, prior to the issuance of Executive Order No. 70 which created the NTF-ELCAC, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his message for the planned yet still to implemented “10 Weeks, 50-Stops” Peace and Development Caravan of Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan, wrote:
“Cultural differences, political disputes and other socio-economic challenges political disputes and other socio-economic challenges are some of the reasons why our country cannot totally move forward. These issues have slowed down our nation’s growth and have built a barrier that prevents our citizens from realizing their potential.
“The government reaffirms our commitment in addressing these concerns. Peace building and development efforts clearly manifest the sincerity of our government in opening doors of opportunities for healing, reconciliation and possible partnerships for progress.
“I recognize this noble undertaking of Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan because it promotes a newfound culture of harmony and cooperation among our communities and across our regions. I am also glad that many government agencies and partners are participating in the project. Together, let us show our solidarity in effecting real and lasting change in our society.”
Currently, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director and National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Allen Capuyan is braving the threat of COVID-19 to stress the importance of the Whole of Nation approach by conducting a non-stop visitation of IP communities to underscore the importance of the direct participation of the people in identifying the immediate needs of IP communities.
Meanwhile, for his part, lawyer Fortunato G. Guerrero, Corporate Secretary of Yes for Peace, Incorporated shared the 2020 theme for the International Day of Peace -- “Shaping Peace Together.”
Guerrero emphasized the United Nations’ call to, “Celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. Stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred.” (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments