Official Gazette

Statement of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles on the reconstitution of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with the CPP / NPA / NDF
[October 21, 2010, Malacañang]
Today we take the Philippine peace process another major step forward with the President’s designation and appointment of the reconstituted government panel for peace talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF, which peace track has been protracted and tumultuous in the past 24 years. The reconstitution of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel manifests the President’s commitment to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts with different rebel groups, as articulated during his Inaugural Address on June 30, 2010.
The President’s designation of Undersecretary Alex D. Padilla as the Government’s chief negotiator in pursuing peace with the CPP/NPA/NDF signals the President’s resolve in restarting the peace process that is aimed toward addressing the root causes of the armed conflict and forging a political settlement. Atty. Padilla, who is currently serving as Undersecretary of the Department of Health, is a renowned advocate of peace, justice and human rights alongside his ten years of service in the field of public health. He brings his legal background as a distinguished lawyer and his extensive experience in having worked with the bureaucracy as well as with civil society in their various advocacies to this challenging task. His designation as Panel Chairperson is expected to advance the stalled peace negotiations; move the process to a discussion of the remaining substantive agenda on socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, and end of hostilities and disposition of forces; and forge a final political settlement of the conflict that will lead to key societal reforms.
The President has directed Atty. Padilla and his team to pursue time-bound and agenda-bound peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF that is anchored on the principles of peace, justice, and human rights. With this marching order, the newly formed Panel has already started to review past agreements, draw lessons learned from the peace process, enlist the inputs of peace stakeholders especially the affected communities, and chart its road map for a just and peaceful conclusion of the armed conflict. This shall be done in close consultation with the concerned government agencies, the legislature, civil society groups, and local government units to ensure that the voice of the people is carried to the negotiating table.
It has been an extensive and rigorous search process which we undertook to reconstitute our government panel. I am pleased to present to you Usec. Padilla, our new Panel chair. He is joined in the panel by seasoned social reform advocates representing different regions of the country, sectors and constituencies. We have also ensured age and gender balance in the new panel.
The members of our new Panel are Ednar Gempasaw Dayanghirang, a Mandaya and strong advocate for the welfare and rights of indigenous peoples, based in Davao; Pablito Sanidad, a seasoned public servant, and justice and humans rights promoter particularly for marginalized sectors, based in Baguio City; Jurgette Honcluada, a leading gender and labor rights advocate and organizer, based in Zamboanga; and Maria Lourdes Tison, a staunch peace and environmental advocate from the private sector, based in Negros.
With the formal reconstitution of the peace panel, we hope that the CPP/NPA/NDF will respond positively to government’s peace efforts by returning to the negotiating table with commitment towards a peaceful conclusion of the armed conflict. We are grateful to the Royal Norwegian Government for accepting our request for Norway to resume its role as third-party facilitator of the talks.
The journey to peace will not be easy. As fellow peace travelers, we appeal for your support, participation and understanding. Thank you for being with us this morning and we look forward to many more engagements with you.
opapp.gov.ph
References
Profiles of The Government Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF
Appointment of Peace Panel Signals Government Resolve To Restart The Peace Process – Sec. Deles
President Aquino Appoints New Panel For GRP – CPP / NPA / NDF Talks
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