DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 23, 2013) – A Filipino youth group called Anakbayan has urged President Benigno Aquino to pursue talks with communist rebels in an effort to attain peace in the country.
This after the group expressed its support to the call of the family of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona to pursue sincere peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in light of the recent shooting incident involving Guingona’s wife, Mayor Ruth Guingona.
Anakbayan also expressed their solidarity with the former Vice President and his family, which they “recognize and respect” for their contribution in the anti-dictatorship struggle and consistent nationalist stance regarding various issues.
According to Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan national chairperson, the Aquino government should “show its sincerity in attaining just and lasting peace, sit down with the NDFP and not use the incident as pretext for warmongering, pushing for further fascist campaigns by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
“It is most unfortunate that the Aquino government and the rabid fascists in the AFP are seemingly using the incident to further wage fascist military campaigns which targets civilians,” he said.
Crisostomo called on the government to instead “work towards attaining just and lasting peace by addressing the root causes of the raging rebellion and pursuing sincere talks with the NDFP.”
“The Aquino administration has been sabotaging the peace negotiations with the NDFP and has not really been engaged in a serious, sincere talks. It refused to honor previous agreements and placed various obstacles for the talks to proceed. Now is the time to go beyond deception and propaganda, really look into the root causes of the rebellion, and work towards just and lasting peace,” he said.
He also urged senatorial candidates to “stand up for just and lasting peace” and call for the resumption of the peace talks.
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