Peace adviser: Pinoy selflessness key to lasting peace

Selflessness among Filipinos should be the key in finally forging a lasting peace, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said Saturday. In her Christmas message, Deles reminded Filipinos they all have a stake in contributing and offering to the nation’s welfare. “Let us rejoice for the spirit of giving and sharing. Alalahanin nating sama-sama tayong nagtataguyod ng kapayapaang alay at hatid ng lahat. You and I conceive a portion of this nation’s peace. We are actually weaving a peace tapestry – threads, colors, and textures come from every stakeholder – from every Filipino. As we contribute and offer to the nation’s welfare, we form selfless hearts and we forge unity," she said in her message. Deles’ office is supervising the government’s peace efforts with the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NDF-CPP-NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In her message, Deles also called for “compassion and peace" to be “planted and birthed amongst all of us." “Let this Season edify our hopeful hearts and joyful dreams for a just and lasting peace. Hari nawang makamtan na natin ang minimithing kapayapaan nang naaayon sa diwa ng Kapaskuhan," she said. Peace pact with NDF in 3 years? The government is hoping to forge a final peace agreement with the NDF within three years. Chief government negotiator Alexander Padilla said the Aquino administration is bent on finding a political settlement with the NDF. “We hope everything will be finished in three years because we want the administration to implement the settlement," Padilla said in an interview aired on government-run dzRB. Excerpts of the interview were posted on the government portal. Padilla said the CPP's 41-year-old armed struggle is the “longest, protracted insurgency" in the whole world. “Peace negotiations have been going on for so long. If we cannot have an agreement in this administration, we might find it hard to have it in the next," he said in Filipino. He also said the Aquino administration will take a different approach compared to its predecessor. Padilla said that while the Arroyo administration also tried to eliminate the NPA in three years, it failed because it used "military means." “Wala tayong nakikita na nananalo through armed means kaya kailangan ng political solution. Kailangan mag-usap talaga (We have not seen anybody win through military means. That is why we need political solution. We really need to talk)," Padilla said. He added that the NDF cannot also win their war through the same approach. “Communism as a political ideology is outdated. Political conflicts today are not all about ideologies. Issues of conflict are now on climate change, resources, among others," he said. The government and the NDF are now on the path to resuming formal talks in February 2011. Both sides have agreed to observe a Christmas ceasefire from December 16 to January 3, 2011. — LBG, GMANews.TV