Gov. Roel Degamo has announced plans to initiate localized peace negotiations with the local New People’s Army guerillas, whose numbers have dwindled over the past years.
The Governor announced the plan Tuesday during a Peace Forum attended by civilian, military, and police officials, as well as representatives from the different sectors and civil society organizations.
Military officials say there are less than 50 armed NPA members in Negros island — most of them are based in Negros Occidental, with only a handful in Negros Oriental, and who are mostly mobile.
In his speech, Degamo highlighted the need to strengthen and sustain programs to further development efforts as he sent a message for the New People’s Army that “war is not an option”.
“We don’t need bullets to achieve peace,” Degamo stressed, amid the failure of peace talks between the Philippine government and the NPA at the national level.
Agreeing with a quote by the late pope St. John Paul II who said that “the new definition of peace is development”, the Governor assured that his administration will focus on development, such as providing more health services and building or improving roads and infrastructure.
Also, his administration is giving emphasis on providing livelihood and protection to marginalized farmers and fisherfolk. By doing so, this would prevent them from returning to the NPA, and to ensure the food security of the Province, Degamo said.
According to the Governor, the provincial and local governments here must sustain the bayanihan programs initiated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as development efforts so the people will no longer be tempted to return or join the insurgency movement.
“We should let our NPA brothers understand the people of Negros Oriental love peace,” Degamo stressed.
He said he believes there is hope for peace with the NPA here as the provincial and local governments are sincere in their desire to uplift the lives of the poor and the marginalized.
Degamo reiterated a prior announcement of possible peace talks with the NPA at the local level, especially as this is also the trend now in other areas in the country.
The Governor also lauded the organizers and participants of the peace forum, saying that it’s a “healthy indication that we all want peace to prevail in our Province, and are willing to work as one to achieve this.”
“Let us continue to pursue avenues of maintaining the peace in our Province because as we all know, war is not an option. Nobody wins a war. It is evil, as it would result in more deaths and suffering of our people, especially the innocent ones,” Degamo stressed.
Attending the peace forum were Maj. Gen. Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the AFP; Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., deputy regional director for operations of the Philippine National Police in the Negros Island Region; Milo Ibrado, consultant of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; some mayors and councilors, barangay officials, representatives from various government agencies such as the Department of Environment & Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, women’s sector, fishermen’s and farmers’ associations, Indigenous Peoples.
The Peace Forum was initiated by the Oriental Negros Children’s Advocacy Network headed by Marietta Jambora as lead convenor. (JFP)
