by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, May 12 (PIA) – Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles called
on the public to hone nationalism starting with themselves and within their own
homes to help create a community of peace.
In a press statement, Deles pointed out that “the work of
nation-building, the work of developing a Philippines that the Filipinos really
care for, that’s the job of everyone.”
“The Philippines even by sheer geography inevitably is going to be a
country of different cultures. The one who lives in the central plains of Luzon
and the one who lives in a small island in the Visayas is going to have a
different perspective,” Deles pointed out.
“Unless there is some appreciation that in fact this rainbow of cultures
is going to enrich me instead of scare me the way it is done now – “Matakot ka
sa Bumbay, matakot ka sa Moro” – the racism in this country does not make for
peace.”
Deles made this call as she spoke before students of the National
Defense College of the Philippines in a lecture entitled “Piecing Together the
Peace Process: The Status of the Philippine Government Negotiations with the
CPP/NPA/NDF, MNLF and MILF” held in Quezon City. Participants were composed of
senior military officers, government officials and executives and individuals
from private sectors.
The peace adviser reiterated the need for the public to have a stake in
the on-going peace processes in the country.
Deles stressed that the public’s participation is vital in the peace
process as “peace agreements are going to need the work of many people” and not
just the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) alone.
“For a peace agreement to be lasting and durable there has to be
ownership. There has to be broad ownership; it cannot be owned only by those
who sit on the table,” she said.
During the lecture, Deles presented the big picture being covered by the
current administration’s peace plan including the on-going peace talks between
the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the recently agreed
upon 10 Decision Points on Principles signed by the two parties at the 27th
Formal Exploratory Talks held in Malaysia last April.
With the document made public, Deles appealed to Filipinos to take part
in this process: “Look at it, study it, and if you have questions – ask.”
She said that as part of the President’s mandate, the current peace
process always strives to be inclusive and transparent.
“We have our panels going around doing consultations. We have working
relationships with both Houses of Congress. We are consulting with former
Supreme Court justices, and we are having frequent consultations with civil
societies and LGUs (local government units),” she said.
As part of its efforts to extensively reach out to the ground, OPAPP
recently opened a Communications Office stationed in Central Mindanao.
Despite the difficulties ahead, the presidential adviser remains
optimistic about the direction the talks are going.
