Bishops welcome Christmas truce between govt, communist rebels

As Catholic bishops expressed support for the Christmas ceasefire between government and communist rebels, they also urged both groups to forge a lasting peace. On Friday, Malacañang announced it will declare a Christmas ceasefire with the New People’s Army from December 16 to January 3, the longest in more than 10 years. Military Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak said he is thankful to God because “both sides will have time to be with their families and enjoy the Christmas holiday." “I hope and pray they continue to dialogue and keep on communicating no matter what happens (because) listening with empathy and speaking with honesty and mutually recognizing theirs and the people’s needs based on values are steps to peace," he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. Tumulak added that “openness of heart and honesty and real concern for the community is a way to peace, lasting peace." In Negros Occidental, a hotbed of communist insurgency in past decades, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said he would welcome more “a long-lasting ceasefire." “This can only be brought about by both parties talking together and agreeing on terms without having any hidden agenda from any side," he said in an article posted Sunday on the CBCP news site. Prospects of a peace agreement between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines were further boosted with the arrival in the country Saturday of NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni. In Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said the ceasefire is a welcome development. He said he hopes that “both sides in the renewed (peace) talks can forge a lasting peace." Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos said he is supportive of the ceasefire as he is “a man of peace," adding people can take advantage of the situation to work for peace beyond the Christmas season. “We have just finished the Mindanao Week of Peace where our guest speaker, a Muslim, talked about the Blessed Mother who has always been an icon of peace," he said. He added both the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines should work together for peace. The Diocese of Butuan comprises of the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur where insurgents have made their presence felt. Meanwhile, Lipa (Batangas) Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said he joins the Filipino people in praying “for lasting peace based on the love of God and of country" as he called on God “to bless these armed people for them to turn their armaments into instruments for food production." – VVP, GMANews.TV