Church workers join Negrenses in quest for peace Continued on page 9 archipelago, accounting for half of the nation’s total sugar production. Sugar became the country’s main agricultural export commodity in late 1700s up to 1970s. Even with the consistent decline in sugar exportation since the 1970s, Negros has remained a mono-crop economy with almost 350,000 sugar workers depending on this industry. Farmers, fisherfolk struggles inspire church workers to form local PEPP in Cavite By Rev. Eric P. Baldonado Continued on page 4 More than a hundred priests, pastors, nuns, lay leaders, and delegates of progressive groups called anew for the resumption of peace talks as they graced the launch of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform’s chapter in Cavite on January 11, 2019. With the theme “Sowing Justice, Reaping Peace,” the local chapter was initiated by the Cavite Ecumenical Movement and Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum - Southern Tagalog, in partnership with the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform National Secretariat. The founding of the PEPP Cavite marked an important cause in the ecumenical body’s advocacy to push for peace talks and address the roots of the armed conflict in the country. Photo courtesy of Ecumenical Bishops Forum Negros island is one of the poorest regions in the country. More than 1.5 million of its population are living below the poverty threshold, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Known as the sugar bowl of the Philippines, Negros is the largest sugar-producing region in the

When I was asked to talk about “pursuing peace in the Philippines” I assumed that I am to share my reflections both as an indigenous person and as one involved in the ecumenical movement for the last 24 years. As you know, indigenous peoples are among those greater mass of the citizens of this land who bear the brunt of continuing marginalization and vulnerability caused by a mindset that promotes “othering”. The areas they occupy are targets for so-called development - the exploitation of water resources, minerals and forests. This is true not only among indigenous peoples in the Philippines but also in many parts of the world, by whatever name they are called - hill tribes, first nations or aboriginals. Remember also, that during the dramatic years of Martial Law, the ecumenical movement in the Philippines, especially the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, took a major paradigm shift and made peacebuilding and peacemaking its enduring concern. Thus, the NCCP supported the peace process initiated by President Fidel V. Ramos, a military general and a Protestant. But beyond that, the NCCP supported the peace talks based on its theological and pastoral reading of our time. Since then, the NCCP has not balked. Until the NCCP renewed a partnership with the European The Editorial Board: Bishop Rex B. Reyes, Jr. Editor in chief Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma SJ, DD. Associate editor Bishop Deogracias S. Iniguez, Jr. Bishop Noel A. Pantoja Sr. Mary John Mananzan OSB Editorial Consultants Mervin H. Toquero Pastor Carlton James Palm Cesar Villanueva Editorial Assistants Ofelia A. Cantor Peace Builder is a quarterly newsletter of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform with editorial offices at: 2nd floor NCCP Building 879 Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue cor. EDSA and Quezon Avenue Quezon, City Philippines Facebook: Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform Email: [email protected] Contact No: 0927-6303392 Pursuing peace in the Philippines By Bishop Rex B. Reyes, Jr. Union for the protection of human rights defenders four years ago, the esteemed Retired Justice Raoul V. Victorino, Chairperson of the NCCP and the self-proclaimed longest serving member of NCCP’s Executive Committee reiterated that indeed, the search for a just and lasting peace remains a vocation of the NCCP. The affirmations of Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza yesterday (his message at the consecration of the first woman bishop of the IFI the day before), underscored the leadership of the IFI and the UCCP in this regard and yes, not without pains as it is with any endeavor that disturbs our assumptions of peace and justice. The experience of the northern dioceses of the Episcopal Church on local peacemaking also comes to mind. We can recall also ecumenical initiatives in Southern Tagalog, the Visayas and many parts of Mindanao mainly for just and lasting peace. Truly, no other concern has united the NCCP member-churches in prayer and action as the concern for just and lasting peace. In the past several months, we have been witnesses to the continuing loss of lives and the vilification of those who speak for them. The IFI of course is not without her own concrete experiences of vilification. We are also witnesses to the serious effects of environmental degradation by the so-called economic agenda of government. Next page “Because everyone will work for justice, there will be peace and security forever.” -Isaiah 32:17 Peace Builder January - June 2019 Volume 1 Issue No. 1 2 | PEACE BUILDER

We are also witnesses to graver social stratification because of political loyalties. It would seem we are moving round and round going nowhere. We are not. Peacemaking and peace-keeping is not vanity. We can celebrate the achievements of the peace talks between the Government and the NDF in the past. Certainly, the four-fold agenda of the peace process, the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and other signed documents are stand-out agreements. Only those whose language is war will find these documents flawed and unacceptable. I have just been to my hometown and I left a bit distressed by what I saw and heard. There have been clashes between the elements of the Philippine National Police and that of the New People’s Army in the province. It came to me in a more profound way that we have a long way to go in terms of peace education. What are the causes of this social stratification and the ensuing conflict that leads to loss of lives, not only of combatants but of civilians? What is the Christian response in our days as our people take sides in the conflict rather than on the urgency of peacekeeping and peacemaking? Do theology and mission have something to say or shall churches prefer silence in the name of neutrality and in the name of the principle of the “separation of the state and religion”? We are drawn into the conflict and must pray and contribute to its resolution for at least two reasons: 1) Our own people are fighting each other. There is war in this country and it has been raging fifty years now. The sooner we realize this, the better it shall be for us to unite for greater resolve towards peacemaking and peacebuilding. Many years ago, Paul offered a perspective giving us a way of understanding our concerns today. In telling the Ephesians to gird themselves, he said: “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our faith bids us to look deeper into the structures that perpetuate violence and un-peace. It would seem then that all of us are caught in this vicious cycle that pits one side against the other - certainly not a way towards reconciliation. The peace process is understandably arduous. But what I do know is that there is no other alternative towards a viable peace settlement. The agenda and the agreements reached so far are remarkable mainly because they identified the issues that brought about the conflict and seek to address those issues. Truly, before us now is the wide picture of injustice and the human and environmental degradation that cannot be left for the politicians alone to resolve. It also takes our faith and resolve to do so. And we go beyond the propagandamongering by the enemies of peace and justice. It is important for us in the church to call an end to the labelling of people. For instance, the association of activism, or in our case as Christians, prophetic witnessing to communism or insurgency or being antigovernment or any other lable has to stop. The Constitution guarantees the right to express one’s political opinion without fear of harassment or persecution. Labelling people does not promote the climate for peaceful conversations. Photo by Carlo Manalansan/Bulatlat Continued on page 8 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 3

A symbolic support and blessing to the new PEPP Cavite officers. Ang Ating Tugon: PEPP and EBF launch online weekly talk show The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform and the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum have launched an online weekly show to discuss pressing issues affecting the people from the faith perspective. “Ang Ating Tugon is about looking at people’s issues from the faith perspective. It is about looking at problems and challenges affecting the people and asking how we would address these through the teachings of Christ as articulated in the Holy Scripture and Christian doctrine,” said its host Benjie Oliveros. Ang Ating Tugon began in October 2018 and has since discussed various issues that range from just and decent wage, overseas Filipino workers, attacks against the Church, resumption of peace talks, proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, the midterm elections, to name a few. The weekly online show is aired in partnership with Radio Veritas Asia Filipino Service, through its social media accounts. Providing technical assistance is the Alipato Media Center, which publishes one of the country’s oldest online media outfits Bulatlat. Oliveros, editor-in-chief of Bulatlat, and also active in the Catholic Church ministry, noted the importance of shows like Ang Ating Tugon in “propagating justice and peace and the Good News of our Salvation.” For years, thousands of Filipinos in the towns and cities in Cavite have been displaced due to widespread land-use conversion and reclamation projects, to name a few. Such projects have put at risk the lives and livelihoods of poor and lowly farmers, fisherfolk, workers, and those dwelling in poor communities. This has prompted the ecumenical body to establish a local chapter of PEPP in the region, as church workers have long stressed that advocating for a just peace is an imperative of one’s faith and mandated by no less than the Scriptures. During the gathering, participants discussed the prospect of the resumption of the peace negotiations under the Duterte administration, which has unilaterally terminated the peace talks and ordered the arrest of peace consultants. Some of the NDFP peace consultants were released in August 2016 to participate in the earlier round of talks. Among those who graced PEPP Cavite’s founding are: Sister M. Lydia Villegas OSB, convenor of RISE UP - Southern Tagalog, Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez (Roman Catholic), Bishop Renante “Dan” Ebueza (PCEC), Bishop Solito Toquero (UMC), Bishop Emiliano Domingo (IFI) and Archbishop Ronel “Rafael” Gracio (ACC). Participants call for the resumption of peace talks in Tagaytay City during the PEPP Cavite launch. Continued from page 1 Farmers, fisherfolk... 4 | PEACE BUILDER

‘A voice for peace’ | Founding of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform Twelve years ago, an ecumenical gathering in the Philippines led to a momentous and important expression of faith among many church leaders and laity -- the founding of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform. The PEPP was born out of efforts of the Norwegian Ecumenical Peace Platform (NEPP) and various church leaders and laity as they search and promote solutions to the long-standing armed conflict in the Philippines. As the Royal Norwegian Government graciously took on the third party facilitation of the peace talks between the Philippine government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the ecumenical sector in Norway started establishing contacts with their counterparts in the Philippines, and together, found ways to support the peace process. The NEPP conducted two factfinding trips to the Philippines in August 2004 and February 2005. This eventually led to a pilot phase of the program in 2006, where the NEPP’s ecumenical adviser visited the country three more times to identify relevant collaboration partners, existing dialogue venues and peacerelated initiatives. In early 2007, the NEPP established a Focal Group in the Philippines which held its first workshop in Dumaguete City on May 17 to 19 that year. Among those who joined the Focal Group are: Association of Major Religious Superiors-Task Forces Detainees of the Philippines (AMRSP-TFDP); Catholic Relief Services (CRS) of Manila and Davao; Pax Christi Pilipinas Secretariat in Bacolod; Social Action Center of Pampanga (SACOP); Silliman University in Dumaguete; Southern Christian College (SCC); Philippine Peace Center (PPC); and Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement. This led to the proposal of members of the Focal Group to convene and form the PEPP. Now the PEPP is a platform for advocacy of church leaders - both from the clergy and laity that were officially designated by the Core group: Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP); Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); Ecumenical Bishop’s Forum (EBF); National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), and Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC). Church leaders reflected on the prevailing situation of unpeace in the Philippines, the immediate need for creative conflict transformation and the imperative for a political settlement to the armed conflict between the GRP and the NDFP. Today, the PEPP remains a voice of the Church that consistently urges on the conflicting parties into a continuing substantive peace dialogue. Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. in a protest calling for the resumption of peace talks between the NDFP and the Philippine government. Photo by Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 5

“Shalom” in the Bible means peace. It connotes material and spiritual well-being. For the believer, shalom means God’s gift, but also man’s task. To examine more fully the meaning of peace in Sacred Scripture, we can explore the many ways that it has been expressed in the history of the Chosen People. 1. Peace is a basic attribute of God. “The Lord is peace” (Judges 6:24). God’s creation forms a harmonious whole, the original peace of the cosmic order. The story of Creation in the first chapter of Genesis echoes with the constant refrain, “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good” (Genesis 1:31). 2. Peace represents the fullness of life. The prophet Malachi depicts Yahweh’s relationship with his chosen one in terms of a covenant: “My covenant with him was one of life and peace” (2:5). Peace is the effect of God’s blessing upon his people. This is reflected in one of the earliest blessings for God’s people: “The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Numbers 6:26). 3. Peace is the goal of life in society, as in the Messianic vision of society. Why are we for just peace? By Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD The prophet Isaiah presents this ultimate goal for the community of nations: “Come, let us climb to the Lord’s mountain....They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again” (2:2-5). The Messiah himself is called the bearer of Peace: “The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light,...for a child is born to us,...They name him... Prince of Peace” (Is 9:1-6). 4. The promise of peace that runs through the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in the life of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. At his birth, the angelic host proclaims: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). .In his proclamation of the Kingdom of God during his public ministry, Jesus includes the beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). When he heals the sick, he tells the young girl, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48). As his gift to the apostles at the Last Supper discourse, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (John 14:27). As the Risen Lord, Jesus repeatedly encounters the apostles with the greeting, “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). Again he says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). It is in this light that the message of Easter is one of peace and hope for a better world. Thus, St. Paul reflects on the very person of Jesus Christ: “For he is our peace, he who...broke down the dividing wall of enmity” (Ephesians 2:14). 5. The peace of Christ is in the first place our reconciliation with the Father, and then with our brothers and sisters. St. Paul often starts his letters invoking the peace that comes from the Father: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). This peace comes from the love and mercy of the Father which is conditioned only by our own forgiveness of one another: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;.. if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Mt 6:12-14). Thus, our Lord counsels his disciples, “Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household’” (Luke 10:5). Reconciliation with “ In the Philippine context, there can be no peace without dialogue and a sense of solidarity among all Filipinos, especially among the last and the least. Continued on page 7 6 | PEACE BUILDER

our neighbor is also a way of reconciling with the Father. 6. Working for peace cannot be separated from announcing the Gospel which is the “Good News of Peace.” The good news of the love and mercy of the Father expressed by the Son is the very basis of peace in our society: “He proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). The Apostle to the Gentiles urges the early Church, “Stand fast with your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:14- 15). In the words of Pope Francis, Christians are always “missionary disciples” sharing the gospel of peace wherever we are. 7. As with the early Christians, we are called to live a life in the spirit where peace reigns. “The concern of the flesh is death,” Paul asserts, “but the concern of the spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6). Indeed, in contrast to the allurements of the world, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22). These gifts of the Spirit are the signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit....Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another” (Romans 14:17-19). It is the Holy Spirit that guides us as peace-builders in our troubled world today. 8. Peace is the fruit of justice; it is also the fruit of love and solidarity. “Peace talks, ituloy!” This was the resounding call of young Christians who gathered on February 23 to 25 during the second council of leaders meeting of the Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas in Iloilo City. At the three-day forum, the council of leaders meeting adopted several important resolutions such Student journalists look deeper into social, economic reforms Over 90 student journalists across the country gathered in Cebu City on March 6 to 10, 2019 to better understand the need to push for peace as talks on social and economic reforms remain pending with the terminated negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Student journalists during the CEGP National Convention. Photo courtesy of CEGP. Youth affirms commitment for peace as opposing the amendments to the Human Security Act and the proposed Mandatory Reserve Officer Training Corps, and the call for a clean, honest, and peaceful midterm elections. They argued that the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act may be used “in conjunction with the attacks on church people and human rights activists, in addition to the killing of several church leaders for speaking for justice.” This, they added, also “turns a blind eye towards resolving the real causes of insurgency in the country.” The 77th National Student Press Convention, with the theme, “Campus press at the forefront of people’s struggle for truth, justice and democracy,” gave an opportunity to student journalists to discuss the importance of the peace talks, in the light of pressing current events. Apart from the lively discussion, the students also had a short immersion trip to urban poor communities in Cebu City, where Continued on page 8 Next page From page 6 Why are we for just peace? THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 7

The prophet cries out, “Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security” (Is 32:17). This is echoed in the psalmist’s prayer, “The Lord will proclaim peace to his people....Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss” (Ps 85: 9-11). Peace then is synonymous with the pursuit of justice, love and truth. There can be no peace without justice; while love and truth are handmaidens of justice and peace in the world. In the Philippine context, there can be no peace without dialogue and a sense of solidarity among all Filipinos, especially among the last and the least. Working for a Just Peace entails addressing the root causes of conflict. Faith-based communities reach out to their own understanding of a fraternal society under one Father in heaven. The pursuit of Shalom -- as a gift from on high and a task for us in this world -- is our prayer and responsibility. they were able to see first hand the sufferings of the people that are born out of policies deemed by critics as anti-poor. Student journalists also discussed attacks on press freedom. The forum was conducted in partnership between the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform. Continued from page 7 Student journalists... Our time marks a generation of fighting with a heavy cost on all of us. Young lives on both sides of the conflict are being wasted. And while I do respect the decisions of many, it is undeniable that the idea of passing on to the next generation the sad state of affairs of Filipinos fighting Filipinos is a most disturbing scenario. 2) It is our vocation as a church and as churches to “preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near”. The peace of Christ is intensely a personal one, so is the love of Christ. Yet, that peace and that love are at the same time relational. They find meaning and measurement in terms of our behavior and relationship with others. Christ, knowing how forgetful we could be further summed up the ten commandments into two. The command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves is neither a result or a consequence of the command to love God with all our hearts and with all our minds and our being. Yesterday, at the examination of Bishop Emelyn Dacuycuy two questions in the Ordinal stood out for me: a) “Will you boldly proclaim and interpret the Gospel of Christ, enlightening the minds and stirring up the conscience of your people?”; and b) “Will you be merciful to all, show compassion to the poor and strangers and defend those who have no helper?” Short of being repetitive, the proclamation of God’s sovereignty and His will for peace, concretely manifested in our call to pursue the peace negotiations remains to be our calling. Like many of you perhaps, I often wonder why the peace talks was scuttled just when the second agenda to be taken up is intended to provide a way out of the economic and political injustices which are among the bases of the insurgency. We were jubilant that early on his term, President Duterte radiated hope that the process will proceed. Why the sudden change of mind? The answer does not lie on what he said but on the reasons why he changed his mind. But we do not lose hope and we do what we are good at doing: praying, working and uniting to advance just and lasting peace. These are so marked in our liturgical, theological and pastoral formulations. The story of your church and the bishops before you and certainly some of you as well as of those in other churches is a story of a church grounded in the aspirations and therefore of the struggles of the people, rooted in theological thought that searches the truth to set us free and prophetic in its pastoral vocation when it speaks out even when it is not fashionable to do so, and holding on to an eschatological hope that has begun to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ who said “do not fear, I have overcome the world (John 16. 33b). May it be so for many years to come. Note: This is a modified article from the presentation before the Supreme Council of Bishops of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente on May 6, 2019. “ The peace process is understandably arduous. But what I do know is that there is no other alternative towards a viable peace settlement. Continued from page 7 Why are we for just... 8 | PEACE BUILDER

Negros agricultural workers cultivate the land by feet in one of their bungkalan areas. (Photo courtesy of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas) Landlessness and slave-like wages continue to beset sugar workers. Most haciendas in Negros islands remain untouched. Data from DAR-Negros Island show that as of September 2016, more than 95,000 hectares have yet to be distributed under land reform. Ninety-nine percent of these lands are private agricultural lands. Moreover, an estimated 70 percent of sugar lands that were distributed have been leased to landlords due mainly to lack of support services and other support facilities, according to the National Federation of Sugar Workers. The Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura further revealed that of the 424,130 hectares of sugar lands in Negros Island, 40 percent are owned by only 1,860 big landlords and 30 percent are owned by just 6,820 big and small landlords. Based on UMA’s research, 95 percent of sugar workers in Negros Occidental receive only P33 to P66 per day. This despite the minimum wage for non-plantation and plantation agricultural workers in the province set at P245 and P255. To fight hunger, thousands of farmworkers have resorted to bungkalan or collective land cultivation since 2009. The bungkalan campaign has earned the ire of landlords, who utilized state security forces to quell the farmworkers’ legitimate struggle for survival. Since October, Negros has again been brought to national attention after the massacre of nine farmworkers in Hacienda Nene, Sagay City, Negros Occidental. The farmworkers just finished clearing the land for their bungkalan when their hut was strafed by paramilitary forces on Oct. 20, 2018. A few weeks later, on Nov. 6 at around 10:30 p.m., the lawyer of the families of Sagay massacre victims was gunned down in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. Benjamin Ramos, 56, sustained three gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. After the Sagay massacre, Duterte himself issued a shootto-kill order against farmers occupying private lands. “My orders to the police and the soldiers, shoot them. If they resist violently, shoot them. If they die, I do not care,” Duterte was quoted as saying. The Duterte administration prioritized the region in its counterinsurgency program. In December 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Negros, along with Bicol and Samar, under the state of emergency through Presidential Memorandum No. 32. Duterte ordered the deployment of more troops to the region allegedly to “curb lawless violence and acts of terror” and “prevent such violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country.” State security forces apparently took to heart Duterte’s order. Since December 2018, at least 21 individuals were killed in several Negros Oriental towns. Next page Continued from page 1 Church workers join... THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 9

Responding to the situation, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, in cooperation with the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) Negros Occidental, conducted a Dialog of Life for Land and Peace: Regional Workshop on CASER on February 6-7, 2019 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. More than 80 participated in the twoday workshop, including peasants, Grade 12 students of St. Scholastica’s Academy, leaders and members of St. Benedict Human Development Foundation (SBHDF), and nuns from RMP. Rev. Fr. Chris Gonzales, the spokesperson of Church peopleWorkers Solidarity and the Director of Social Action Center, Diocese of Bacolod gave the Biblico Theological Reflection (BTR) on Land and Life. He shared the historical struggle for land and life which was described in the old testaments and reflects it in the Philippine settings. He stressed that many lives were spilled in the struggle for genuine land reform. In his homily, Fr. Gonzales urged the Church people to support the struggling people. A daughter of one of the Sagay massacre survivor recounted their experience. NFSW Secretary General John Milton Lozande also discussed the plight of sugar workers and the human rights situation in Negros. Ofel Cantor discussed the national situation while Pastor Carlton “Cobbie” Palm of PEPP core group discussed the historical roots of the pursuit for peace and justice. The participants ended the activity with the call for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and to address the roots of the armed conflict by pushing for the Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reforms (Caser). Land reform and rural development, and national industrialization form part of Caser. Unfortunately, a month later, another tragedy took place in Negros. On March 30, 2019, fourteen farmers were killed in “anticriminality” operations of combined forces of the police and military in three towns of Negros Oriental. Twelve others were arrested and charged with trumped-up cases. A national fact-finding mission found state security forces involved in the March 30 operations in Negros Oriental liable for murder, theft and other rights abuses. The report revealed that all the 14 farmers killed in Canlaon City, Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina were unarmed and were already under the custody and control of state security forces when they were killed. Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos City, demanded an independent investigation into the March 30 incidents. “We don’t want to turn our beautiful island of Negros into a killing field!” he said. Bishop Alminaza warned that human rights abuses committed by the government forces would only make them “best recruiters” for the underground movement. “Please make sure you are not adding more reasons for our people to get disillusioned with our government and peacekeepers,” he said. Sr. Elen Belardo, RGS and National Coordinator of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines sharing her thoughts on the on going struggle for land of the poor peasants in Negros. Participants calling for the resumption of the peace talks. 10 | PEACE BUILDER

I t has been two years since martial law in Mindanao was declared by President Duterte and cases of human rights violations continue to mount. In the three-day regional seminar and conversation for Northeastern Mindanao (from Feb. 28 until March 1, 2019) initiated by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), participants from Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Cagayan de Oro City shared the situation on the ground. Also present were participants from the government, religious groups and community leaders. They reported cases of harassment of activists, red tagging, arbitrary detention of Lumad leaders due to trumpedup charges and fake New People’s Army surrenderees. There is also massive evacuation of Lumad from their communities due to the intensifying counterinsurgency program of the government. This led to the closure of 77 Lumad schools. Meanwhile, Mindanaoans in farflung areas continue to suffer from lack of basic social services such as health and education. People’s suffering A documentary entitled “Defend – Stories of Mindanaoans in the time of martial law” shows the sufferings of the people with the martial law declaration. In Tugaya, Valencia, Bukidnon, six families belonging to Talaandig tribe had to walk for six days as they seek refuge in another village after being harassed by the military. “They (soldiers) accuse us of being NPA members but we are farmers. We plant corn to earn a living so we can send our kids to school,” a mother said. Joseph, a leader from Opol, Misamis Oriental, was threatened with arrest if he would not surrender. He was accused by the military as an NPA supporter. Joseph said the soldiers are being used by palm oil companies encroaching upon their ancestral land. But Joseph said they will continue to fight for the land that they inherited from their ancestors. No basis It was May 23, 2017 when President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao following clashes between government troops and the Isis-inspired Maute group in Marawi City. Despite ‘winning’ the war against Maute, Duterte did not lift martial law in October 2017. By now martial law has been extended at least three times since May 2017 until the end of 2019. Rehabilitation in Marawi City is still nowhere to be seen. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), over 100,000 people of Marawi have not yet returned to their homes, many families have not yet recovered as they are still dependent on assistance. Lumad families flee from their communities due to heavy militarization. (Screen grabbed from the film entitled “DEFEND-Stories of Mindanaoans in the Time of Martial Law by EJ Mijares) Continued on page 13 Peace talks and martial law in Mindanao THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 11

Peace talks under Duterte The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) was saddened by the termination of the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. In a statement, the PEPP maintained that it is the Filipino people who will be “at the losing end” if parties will not return to the negotiating table. Both parties have been hailed for the unprecedented pace in the peace negotiations at the onset of the present administration. However, both formal and informal negotiations were stalled repeatedly in 2017. President Rodrigo Duterte unilaterally cancelled the talks when he signed Presidential Proclamation No. 360. Today, the Philippine government has announced that Bishops push for electoral education Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares during the Our Faith, Our Vote forum. A month before the midterm elections, church groups gathered together to collectively discern who among the senatorial candidates truly aim for the common good of the Filipino people. In the forum dubbed as “Our Faith, Our Vote” on April 8 at the Maryhill School of Theology, more than 200 reflected on the significance of the midterm elections amid the administration’s attempts to control the senate towards declaring martial law or the so-called revolutionary government. Lawyer Alex Lacson, convenor of the People’s Choice Movement, said the Church must actively campaign for deserving candidates to frustrate the administration’s plans. The issue of national sovereignty, which included the lopsided China deals that will put at risk the country’s ownership and control over its natural resources, was highlighted as an electoral issue. The Ecumenical Bishops Forum in partnership with the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform and Association of Major Religious Superiors organized the forum. Photo by Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform it will, instead, focus on “localized peace talks.” The terminated talks come at a time when both parties are set to negotiate on social and economic reforms, which is considered as the “meat” of the talks. PEPP challenged Duterte to see through a just and enduring peace as his administration’s lasting legacy. They said, “Peace is urgent and imperative. With real commitment to peace the impasses can be overcome through gestures of confidence.” Fourth formal peace talks in April 2017 at The Netherlands. (Photo by Jon Bustamante) 12 | PEACE BUILDER

Regional Workshop and Peace Conversation with peace advocates held in Feb 28-March 1, 2019. For many cause-oriented groups, martial law in Mindanao has not addressed but exacerbated the root causes of the problem. Contrary to the government’s claim that there is “significant progress in the peace and order situation in Mindanao,” human rights group Karapatan has recorded at least 800,000 victims of civil and political rights violations. Some of the cases recorded were the Patikul massacre in September 2018 where seven youths were found dead after harvesting fruits from their farmlands, the Jolo twin bombings in January this year as well as the bombing of Lumad communities which resulted in forced evacuation. Church people call to stop martial law in Mindanao, resume peace talks Bishop Ligaya F. San Francisco during the conference urged the church people to unite and work for peace. “We live comfortably but all those things we heard are very discomforting for the people,” Bishop San Francisco said. The PEPP has been calling for the resumption of peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Philippine government. They urge the both parties to return to the negotiating table especially since there are drafts of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, the second substantive agenda in the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations. “Something is wrong. Let’s prevent bloodshed and prevent evacuations. Let us call for the lifting of martial law in Mindanao and start the peace talks,” she added. Contiinued from page 11 Peace talks and ... Protesters light candles for 136 killed in the past two years of martial law in Mindanao. (Photo by John Aaron Mark Macaraeg / Bulatlat) Church leaders and lay groups called for the resumption of peace talks, following the killing of 14 farmers in Negros as they culminated the forum, “Our Faith, Our Vote,” last April 8. Church calls for peace talks resumption Much like in its war against illegal drugs, authorities claimed that the farmers were killed when they resisted arrest on March 30, while members of police and military were carrying out the so-called Oplan Sauron. About a dozen farmers, too, were arrested. Church people said it is urgent for both parties to return to the formal negotiating table and to talk on how to address the roots of the armed conflict. Photo courtesy of Promotion of Church People’s Response. Photo courtesy of Promotion of Church People’s Response. THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 13

The unwavering peace advocacy of Rey Casambre On September 16 last year, Rey Claro Casambre spoke at the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. Among those in the room were Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, then GRP Negotiating Panel Chairperson. In the evening, Casambre joined a dinner-meeting with lawyers and a politician in Quezon City. They talked until 11:00 that night. It was a long , typical working day for Casambre. In his 60s, thin, with greying to white hair and a habit of looking for hope and humor in even the most desperate situation, Casambre is a known advocate and authority on the peace process in the Philippines. As executive director of the Philippine Peace Center providing volunteer services for the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), he frequently discusses its achievements, its goals and setbacks and what needs to be done to make it a reality, in seminars and conferences on peace-building in the country and abroad. For Casambre, that typical day in mid-September last year would assume a different light come December 6. From afternoon that day until the wee hours of the morning the next day, December 7, 2018, he and his wife were tailed on the road, accosted by armed men, forced at gunpoint to leave their car while the armed men “searched” into their car for half an hour, and, finally, after midnight, they were brought to a police station in Bacoor where they learned they were “arrested,” and that the armed men who tailed them for hours and searched and arrested them belonged to the Criminal Investigation and Detection GroupNational Capital Region (CIDGNCR). In the cold light of December 8 morning, the inquest prosecutor found the police allegations “preposterous,” dismissing with use of common sense what the police claimed they saw for the simple reason that firearms and explosives, along with a 13-inch Macbook cannot all fit in the open dashboard compartment of a car. Photo courtesy of Unite for a Just Peace, Free Rey Casambre’s Facebook page. NDFP Consultants Wilma Tiamzon Ariel Arbitrario and Rey Claro Casambre. (Photo by Kodao Productions) 14 | PEACE BUILDER

“The loopholes and contradictions in the police’s own narrative are simply too large to ignore,” said lawyer Rachel F. Pastores, managing counsel of the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) handling Casambre’s case. Unfortunately it is not the only “preposterous allegation” that up to this writing has kept Casambre in prison. It requires remembering his activities in September and demanding common sense like what the prosecutor in Cavite did to reject the December 7 “preposterous allegations.” Old and new attacks in defense of vested interest, status quo “An army private swore before a Lupon, Davao Oriental fiscal/ prosecutor that he saw and recognized me as one of the NPA fighters shooting and wounding him in a remote Lupon sitio” early morning of September 17, Casambre said. He was arrested and kept in jail on the basis of a warrant of arrest issued by a judge in Davao Oriental acting on this army private’s account. This soldier named others with Casambre as allegedly participating in that early morning ambush. The others named, it would turn out, were also very far from that site at the time. How remote is Lupon? It is 1,493 kilometers from Manila. The fastest to reach it from Manila is by going to the NAIA, taking a two-hour flight and then a four- to five-hour van ride. From the drive to checkin at NAIA down to Lupon, these mean a total of nine hours of nonstop travel that was unavailable to Casambre or other ordinary mortals who were in a meeting in Manila until 11:00 pm, six hours before he was allegedly spotted in Lupon, Davao Oriental. “Presumably, there is no need to argue my innocence of the crimes the state has charged me with to throw me behind bars and detain me indefinitely,” his message read at the launch of a campaign for his release and for a just and lasting peace on January 20 this year. “This betrays a high-level sinister though crude design to put me behind bars by twisting the law and perjuring the judicial process,” Casambre said. While the military thinking behind this kind of attack is not new to Casambre, he warned against the “new” types of attacks added to it to shield the status quo from criticisms and activist movement demanding genuine change. “National security” is equated to maintaining the status quo. The vested interests of the powerful few, both domestic and foreign, are misrepresented as “national interest”. These are not new, Casambre said. What he notes as new is that civilian agencies and institutions, including the courts, are increasingly being used as weapons in an “even more vicious counterinsurgency campaigns invoking ‘national security’ and ‘national interest’.” This is the first time for Casambre to share a crowded jail with a few other political prisoners and more suspected drug pushers, addicts, thieves, swindlers, wife beaters, etc. Criminal or not, each has the right to be presumed innocent before the bar of justice, Casambre said. Yet he is finding out that nearly all of those in jail had been set up by “overzealous law enforcers” and charged with illegal possession of firearms on top of the original criminal charges. After his survey of others in jail, he sees himself as belonging to “a small fraction of the tip of the iceberg of the mass of unjustly charged and incarcerated.” He has so far missed one Christmas and New Year with his family; moving up ceremonies and school vacations of his grandchildren; the Cora and Rey Casambre. (Photo courtesy of Public Interest Law Center.) Continued on page 16 Photo by Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PHILIPPINE ECUMENICAL PEACE PLATFORM | 15

“ I have known Rey as a peace advocate. In fact, a great peace advocate. He is the executive director of the Philippine Peace Center and serves as resource persons for peace advocates and groups in the country, especially the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform… We call on the government for all trumped up charges against him be dismissed and all other political detainees should be freed. -Bp. Felixberto L. Calang Iglesia Filipina Independiente Convenor, Sowing the Seeds of Peace “ Many testify to Rey’s pluck as a tenacious peace advocate, who has steadfastly worked to open lines of communication and help resolve impasses in the peace negotiations. - Unite for Just Peace! Free Rey Casambre! “ As I witnessed him deliver his speeches with heart and soul, I could not help but marvel at his faith and great aspiration for the resumption of the Peace Talks. And he is not alone. Many “ We are all for peace and justice and we would like to see a dialogue and peace negotiations to resume in order to arrive at a just and lasting “ If your arrest goes beyond the role you have played as a consultant to the NDFP, but also target you as a peace advocate and the peace movement in general, this is an even more serious action taken by the Duterte administration. The peace movement in the Philippines must not be deterred by these wrongful actions. Now is the time for mobilization and to stand stronger together.” Aron Johan Halfen Project Manager, South Africa and Asia Caritas Norway, Norwegian Ecumenical Peace Platform have journeyed with him in dialogue – bishops, the religious and clergy, academics, government officials, diplomats, and, of course, the people themselves. I admire those who continue to share this aspiration for Peace. -Sr. Aida Casambre RGS Sister of Rey Claro Casambre peace. Rey has been a valuable contributor and consultant of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform of which I am a co-chair… Rey has been a valuable partner in the peace talks and dialogue that take place in formal circles but also for ordinary citizens and civil society groups.” -Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro Co-chairperson, Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform continued from page 15 The unwavering peace... campaign season for the 2019 midterm elections and what he could have contributed to bring to fore the issues of peace. Meanwhile, at his age, he has been forced to endure the burning heat and various privations in the country’s cramped prisons. He currently awaits the Lupon court decision that would free him from prison. If that court is not being used as a weapon against peace advocates as he observed, it would have also cried against “preposterous allegations” soon enough. “I would like to think that the real reason I am being detained – indefinitely if the kingpins of national security have their way – is that somehow I am contributing my share to the people’s struggle to overhaul this unjust and undemocratic social system. Only diehard reactionaries would condemn this as a criminal act.” 16 | PEACE BUILDER