“We join you in spreading and living the message of St. Francis that there can only be lasting peace here on earth if there is social justice, equity and freedom.” – Kapayapaan
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – It has been more than three years since formal peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have reached an impasse.
Peace advocates have been calling on both parties to resume formal talks, honor all previous agreements and address the roots of the armed conflict, but to no avail.
With the visit of Pope Francis, peace advocates find renewed hope. They are calling on the Pope to act as a broker just as he interceded for the reopening of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba.
In an open letter addressed to the Pope, convenors of the Kapayapaan – Campaign for a Just and Lasting Peace – said they are heartened by the Pope’s choice of name honoring St. Francis of Assisi. “We join you in spreading and living the message of St. Francis that there can only be lasting peace here on earth if there is social justice, equity and freedom,” they said.
Kapayapaan convenors asked the Pope to “touch the hearts of those in the peace panels of the GPH and the NDFP that they may be able to address the roots of the armed conflict.”
Meanwhile, teachers and education workers belonging to ACT for Peace gathered at the Bell of Peace at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Jan. 14 and called on the Pope “to stand and struggle with them for a just and lasting peace.”
France Castro, convenor of the ACT for Peace and Kapayapaan, urged the Pope to intercede for the immediate release of 12 NDFP consultants and the rest of the 491 political prisoners. “Of course, the negotiation will not prosper if the consultants of the NDFP are in jail,” she said.
Citing the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guaranty (Jasig) signed both by the NDFP and GPH, Castro said peace consultants are guaranteed protection from arrest and other forms of harassment.
In a separate statement, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon also expressed hope that the Pope will take up the issue of peace when he meets with President Aquino in Malacanang.
Ridon noted the Pope’s active involvement in country-country talks, especially that between Israel and Palestine and between United States and Cuba.
The Pope is set to arrive this afternoon in Manila.
Release of POWs hampered
In a related development, the NDFP-Northeastern Mindanao Region (NEMR) said it could not carry out the release of three of its prisoners of war (POWs) due to military operations.
In a statement sent through email, NDFP-NEMR spokeswoman Maria Malaya said they cancelled the scheduled release of PO1 Jorie M. Amper, PO3 Democrito B. Polvorosa, and PO1 Marichel U. Contemplo on January 17 because the military refused to withdraw its troops from the area.
Malaya said the NDFP-NEMR requested the pullout of soldiers in barangays Sico-sico and Camam-onan, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte to facilitate the safe release of three POWs. She claimed that Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ponce, head of the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade, refused to meet the request.
Malaya said “the release of the three POWs was meant to be a gesture of peace during the Papal visit and in response to the ardent request of the family to be reunited with their loved ones.” She added it is also a confidence building-measure for the resumption of the peace talks between the NDFP and the GPH. 
