CBCP not keen on mediating for resumption of govt-NDF peace talks

From GMA News (Nov 9): CBCP not keen on mediating for resumption of govt-NDF peace talks

Citing questions about the National Democratic Front's sincerity and command over communist New People's Army rebels, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Sunday said it will not mediate for the resumption of peace talks between the NDF and the government.

But CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Socrates Villegas said the bishops will continue to pray for the peace process.

"The CBCP for its part categorically states that it cannot take in the role of initiating, convening, mediating or presiding over a dialogue between the National Democratic Front and government representatives. We are of the firm persuasion that under the present circumstances, this cannot be part of our ecclesial mandate as an episcopal conference," he said in a statement.

While Villegas' statement indicated the CBCP was requested to mediate, he did not indicate who made the request.

In April 2013, the Philippine government ended formal peace talks with the Communist Part of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF)

The CPP said later that year that it would no longer engage in peace talks with the Philippine government under the Aquino administration.

Villegas said that while the NDF claims to be the umbrella organization, its cohesiveness is questionable as it appears to be caught off guard at times about the NPA's activities.

"We have been informed by members of the government peace panel that they were under the impression that many of the attacks and raids conducted on the local fronts were hardly ever known and -- if ever -- only belatedly acknowledged by Utrecht leaders," he said.

Also, he said that while the government has repeatedly acceded to peace talks by appointing top-level negotiators and requesting the involvement of foreign governments like Norway, "none of these prolonged, and expensive negotiations have borne substantial fruit."

Worse, he said ceasefires "have regrettably been used by the rebel forces to recruit membership especially in far flung barangays that have had to labor under the burden of supplying food and sustenance to the members of he New People's Army."

"And while insurgents complain that some of their leaders have been arrested while on safe-conduct passes, it is our understanding that such passes were issued to allow their representatives to attend negotiations and conferences, and not for the purpose of consolidating membership," he said.

Besides, he said that when the CBCP mediates or initiates negotiation, "it does so at all times as herald of the Gospel and servant of the Kingdom of God."

"Truth and justice are therefore its primary and non-negotiable guideposts, and when it does not find these present, or when, in its discernment, made in prayer and docility to the prompting of the Spirit, it does not find a disposition to sincerity and trustworthiness in the parties to the dialogue, the CBCP will not lend itself to a fruitless exercise or to a charade visited on the entire country," he added.

On the other hand, Villegas said the bishops will continue to pray for a peaceful resolution to this long-festering problem of insurgency in the country.

He said that while recent historical events proved the impracticability of socialist societies as the now-defunct Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Pope Francis has also taught that unbridled and unprincipled capitalism cannot be any better "and is as exploitative and oppressive particularly on the marginalized."

"We encourage qualified lay persons to contribute to the dialogue and to foster that spirit of openness and sincerity that alone can make negotiations promising," he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/387272/news/nation/cbcp-not-keen-on-mediating-for-resumption-of-govt-ndf-peace-talks