Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform

As Christians all over the world celebrate the advent of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace who came so that all may have abundant life (John 10:10), the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP)*, the largest ecumenical formation of church leaders in the country, reiterate our call for the resumption of the formal peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in accordance with their prior bilateral agreements.

The formal talks between the two sides have not resumed since February. We call on both sides to find remedies to the obstacles they face in pursuing the peace negotiations. Both sides should “...take heart and not erode the bridges built through the years” (Transcend the Present Impasse and Continue to Bridge the Peace: Resume the Formal Talks Now, PEPP Statement, October 20, 2011). We also anticipate the traditional declaration by both GPH and NDFP of a unilateral ceasefire in observance of the Christmas Season ... More

“They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14)

It is not an overstatement to say that faith communities expressed jubilation at the resumption of the formal peace talks. More elation and renewed hopes followed soon after the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines panels issued their joint statement in February. The road was clear for more rounds of talks ahead. Or so it seemed. ... More

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), the broadest ecumenical formation of church leaders advocating for the formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), is alarmed over recent pronouncements of both sides that may not auger well for the continuation of the formal peace talks.

After the spark of hope that was brought about by the GPH-NDFP formal peace talks last February, which produced the February 21, 2011 Oslo Joint Statement, the recent pronouncements to the media from both GPH Peace Panel Chair Atty. Alex Padilla and NDFP Peace Panel Spokesperson Fidel Agcaolli, bodes for another postponement of the formal talks. The talks was postponed already last June and we feel that another postponement may truly derail the peace negotiations. ... More

(The Ecumenical Church Leaders Summit on Peace 2011 is a Conference on the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) which was initiated by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform and held at the Mary Ridge Spiritual Center, Tagaytay City last July 19 to 21, 2011.)

Peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have been going on and off over the past four decades in an effort to resolve the armed conflict. In February 2011, peace talks were resumed in Oslo with renewed hopes for a just and lasting resolution to this conflict.
   
It is in this context that the united voice of religious leaders representing the various religious communities in the country can play a significant role in ensuring the validity and sustainability of the peace process.  The success of this approach was historically proven in other countries with armed internal conflicts such as South Africa, Columbia, Ireland and others. ... More

As church people looking to overcome ignorance, our task is two-fold. First, as peacemakers, we must embody openness to the suffering of the poor and marginalized, so that we can strengthen our skills of solidarity and our concrete acts of peacemaking. Only in this active, growth cycle of critical and compassionate engagement do we, ourselves, transform into peacemakers. Second, we must be diligent in our role as prophets. Our task is to exert every effort to break through the apathy, indifference, selfishness, self-absorption and greed that allows so many to ignore the suffering around them. We must sound the trumpets of justice and ring out the truth of righteousness.

Our responsibility is no less than to be God’s conduits to expose the depravity of sin, inspire people to change their lives toward wholeness, and to bear witness to the possibility of a just and lasting peace. ... More

(Photo from Newsday.com)

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) composed of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines,  the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, and the Association of Major Religious Superiors (Men & Women) in the Philippines deplore the tragic incidents in Oslo that claimed the lives of at least ninety-four (94) and the wounding of others.  We are especially saddened that most of the victims were young people.

We reach out to the bereaved.  May they find strength to meet the days ahead.  We reach out to the people of Norway at this time of national grief and mourning.  The killing of people anywhere is an act of violence against God’s creation everywhere.  May justice be rendered. ... More

This was considered a big day for the PEPP Church Leaders as the Chair of the GPH, Atty. Alex Padilla sat down for a  dialogue with them  at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)  in Ortigas,  Pasig City.  Soon after,  the dialogue with NDFP Chair Mr. Louie Jalandoni  ensued through Skype and afterwards, Mr. Fidel Agcaoili, Vice Chair of the NDFP Peace Panel, came to sit down and talk with the church leaders. ... More

MANILA — The peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has been postponed.

In a letter dated June 2 addressed to GPH peace panel chairman Alexander Padilla, NDFP panel chairman Luis Jalandoni proposed the postponement of talks scheduled this month until such time that the NDFP consultants and other individuals protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) are released. ... More

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), the largest ecumenical formation of church leaders in the Philippines, is apprehensive over the news that the second round of the formal peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), may not take place in June, as scheduled, following an impasse. This douses the jubilation we had following the successful resumption of the formal peace talks on February 15-21, 2011. ... More

From January to May 2011, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform regionwide chapter in Mindanao has conducted numerous activities in pursuit of raising awareness for a just and lasting peace. Check out their presentation of the different activities here.