FM urges Yuletide ceasefire with rebs

HOUSE Assistant Minority Leader and Leyte (1st District) Rep. Ferdinand Martin “FM” Romualdez yesterday urged the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to declare a bilateral ceasefire during the holiday season. This early, Romualdez, senior member of the House committees on national defense and security and on public order and safety, has underscored the need for a peaceful Yuletide season.

“With the suspended talks, it is now even more important for the government, the NPA and the MILF to have a bilateral or even a unilateral ceasefire to ensure a peaceful holiday season. The people have been asking for genuine peace,” said Romualdez.

The Leyte solon added that a ceasefire should be observed not only this Christmas but also in coming months. “Preliminary talks that could be a key to formal resumption of stalled peace talks may take place,” he explained.

Romualdez said the government should discuss his proposal with the MILF and CPP-NPA.

In case the rebels reject his propsoal, Romualdez said “a unilateral ceasefire declaration from the government will do.”

Earlier, Romualdez backed the possible resumption of the long-stalled peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF). This, he said, would end the decades-long communist insurgency that has been preventing growth in the countryside.

Romualdez’s call for peace was echoed later by Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano.

The Leyte congressman, a senior member of the House committees on rules and on justice, said both parties should capitalize on the present good condition to set the preliminary talks.

Jose Ma. Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP), said the preliminary talks may happen in Oslo, Norway, and could lead to the formal resumption of peace negotiations by January or February next year.

Romualdez lauded Sison’s display of goodwill and commitment to peace.

The Leyte solon also hailed Sison’s plans to send NDF chairman Luis Jalandoni and his wife, Coni Ledesma, a negotiating panel member, to pay a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang.

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco, Journal Online