DAVAO CITY - Thousands participated in a march here Tuesday to show their support for the peace talks between the communist insurgency and the Philippine government under the administration of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.
Althea Amoguis of Bayan-Southern Mindanao said an estimated 40,000 people joined today’s march organized by the group Exodus for Justice and Peace.
Huge march of supporters of the peace talks between the left and the govt now happening in Davao City
"These events are part of our work as church leaders in building bridges of peace between the people and the protagonists of our brothers engaging in this struggle," said Exodus for Justice and Peace convenor Jurie Jaime.
"We have been doing peace building among our constituents. We have been facilitating the safe release of captured soldiers and police officers and counselled families. We have also visited captured political prisoners in jails."
The march is part of the two-day activity that started yesterday with a concert for peace dubbed “Sonata para sa Kalinaw” (Concert for Peace). The two-day gathering will culminate in a peace forum at 1 p.m. Tuesday which will be attended by various representatives from the incoming government and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
The march comes after envoys from both the NDF and the Duterte camp agreed to resume formal peace talks in July.
Today’s march also marks the first death anniversary of New People’s Army leader Leonio “Ka Parago” Pitao.
IN PHOTOS: Thousands say farewell to Mindanao's 'shining red star'
Today's march also marks the first death anniv. of New People's Army commander Leoncio "Ka Parago" Pitao @ABSCBNNews
Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison earlier commemorated Pitao and his contribution to the leftist movement.
"It is encouraging to recall the indomitable courage of Ka Parago at a time that the forces of Oplan Bayanihan continue to rampage,” Sison said, referring to the Philippine military’s counter-insurgency program.
“It is fitting and proper to celebrate the revolutionary principles and heroic deeds of Ka Parago during the concert on June 27 in order to enlighten the audience about the 12-point program of the NDFP, the people’s war and the peace talks as well as during the mass mobilization and peace forum on June 28. We are hopeful that these activities will remind President Duterte of the need to withdraw military forces to their barracks in Mindanao and elsewhere in consonance with the impending interim ceasefire agreement in the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations.”
http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/05/18/16/why-joma-sison-backs-critical-left-honeymoon-with-duterte
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