Manila, Jan. 30 – Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles appealed to representatives of the religious and private sectors to join in the call for a just and lasting peace in the country.

“We need everyone’s help,” she told bishops and business people during a forum on winning a just and lasting peace held on Tuesday at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center, U.N. Avenue, Manila. Joining her were Marvic Leonen, Government of the Philippines (GPH) panel chair for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Jurgette Honculada, panel member for talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).

Deles delivered a briefing for the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference (BBC) for Human Development on  developments in the peace process pursued by the government.

In her message, she reiterated that the “prospect for peace is better than it has been in a very long time.”

However, Deles stressed that the context of the peace process is indeed “complex and political” because it aims for political settlement of armed conflicts through negotiated peace agreements.  

“Peace agreements require political will to implement them in a political climate,” she pointed out. In this view, she conveyed hope for the peace process because of the new political leadership that makes “winning a just and lasting peace for all Filipinos” a centerpiece.

Moreover, Deles underscored that “We have to be conscious on how politics can affect the peace process.”

“The peace process is still littered with land mines. As we approach seasons of election on 2013 and 2016, the peace process will be tagged within the politics of survival and with those who easily twist issues and put down peace efforts. For some, it is so easy to say things against the peace process and cause misunderstanding to the public,” she elaborated.

Hence, amidst challenges and difficulties, the peace process “needs deep understanding, faith, and faithful accompaniment from all sectors including the religious, business or private, and civil society,” Deles explained.

In this context, Deles urged “Let’s not waste the moment” in achieving peace in the country.

Leonen, on the other hand, shared updates on the GPH-MILF peace process, while Honculada discussed the situation in the GPH-CPP-NPA-NDFP peace table.

Leonen said that “the government and the MILF are on the same page,” stressing that both parties are negotiating to craft a “genuine autonomy” to resolve the Bangsamoro problem.

During the recent GPH-MILF 24th formal exploratory talks held on January 9 to 11 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, both parties confirmed “constructive discussions on substantive issues,” such as “the concept of governance and the listing of reserved powers of the National Government.” Likewise, “both parties clarified their positions, tentatively identified areas of common ground and agreed to consult with their principals on outstanding issues.” Meanwhile, they have agreed to meet again in February for the next round of talks.

“This chance should not be wasted. We need everybody’s help in moving the peace process forward. There is room for miracles,” Leonen stated.

Honculada, who provided a short presentation on the developments of the peace process with the CPP-NPA-NDFP, said that the “clamor for local ceasefire and local peace talks is growing.

With the delay in the negotiations, stakeholders have been appealing to both sides to go back to the peace table.

“What’s next (for the peace talks)? There are three possible scenarios: resumption, suspension, termination … If the stakeholders and the public still believe in peace, they must do what they can to keep both parties at the table,” she stated.

Honculada also stressed that whatever the scenario is, the government “won’t be the first to leave the table.” The forum was attended by members of the BBC including Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and National Director  of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – National Secretariat for Social Action;  bishops of the BBC National Executive Committee, namely Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Co-Chairman; Bp. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., Vice Chairman; Bp. Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, Bp. Arturo M. Bastes, Bp. Antonieto D. Cabajog, Bp. John F. Du,  Bp. Reynaldo G. Evangelista, Bp. Crispin B. Varquez, and  members of the BBC National Executive Committee.