Waging Peace network welcomes peace moves in the Philippines

Waging Peace Philippines (WPP), a civil society network convened by International Alert, warmly welcomed the recent political developments in the Philippines which could significantly advance the peace process in the country. The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) recently announced the suspension of offensive military operations, therefore giving respite to more than 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in precarious conditions in makeshift camps. “Children are dancing with joy” starts the WPP statement, reporting the happiness of IDPs in Datu Piang as the ceasefire was announced. “With less than a year of the current administration, it may not be realistic or even wise to beat a deadline for signed peace agreements”, continues the Waging Peace network, “but with good will and genuine efforts for reform, this can be a final chance to leave a legacy of significant steps forward on peace”. Commenting also on the peace process between the Government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the peace advocates stated “we support the negotiations on Socio and Economic Reforms and assert that these should already be complemented by concrete actions towards structural justice in order to reverse the growing poverty in the country”. Moreover, the WPP called for the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law to be immediately convened and continuously applied to strengthen the implementation of the human rights agreement by all parties. “At this time, there should be a stop to all extrajudicial killings, assassinations, torture, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations by all perpetrators”, continued the WPP. Through this statement, WPP wanted to express its commitment to supporting these renewed peace tracks between the Government and both the MILF and the NDF by building a constituency for peace, sharing their peace agenda, and advocating for a clean electoral transition and governance reform necessary for establishing sustainable peace in the country.