The National Council of Churches in the Philippines celebrates the third round of formal peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front this month. We are edified that this third round is taking place in Rome within the octave of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
We will pray especially for the success of the negotiations as we always uphold the peace talks in our prayers. We will pray that the men and women directly taking part in the process will take to heart the urgency and importance of the agenda on the table, mainly the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms or Caser.
We recognize that the peace negotiation is a political process. Our enduring concern for peace and justice bid us to support and pray for its success. Our fervent prayer is for the resolution of the economic injustice that has bred the social unrest for a long time. We hold on to the long-awaited political reforms, as well. We owe this much to the generations after us. Meanwhile, we press the government to honor agreements and release all political prisoners.
As we urge our constituency to be unceasing in prayer for peace, we exhort the members of the negotiating panels to be resolute in resolving the strife that has been going on for almost half a century. We thank the Royal Norwegian government for its crucial role as Third Party Facilitator.
JUSTICE RAOUL V. VICTORINO (ret.), REV. SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES, BISHOP RODOLFO A. JUAN , LISSA BELLE R. BROWN, REYNALDO M. NATIVIDAD, REV. REX RB REYES JR., National Council of Churches in the Philippines