The three-day forum calling for the resumption of peace talks between the national government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, conducted by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, comes to a close today, April 26, at the CICM (Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae) in Talisay City.

In a release regarding the event, organizers lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for the earlier release of 19 NDF consultants from jail, calling it “a glimpse of hope.” In return, they said the church would conduct activities as a “gesture of support.” However, they noted talks ended before coming to a compromise on the comprehensive agreement on socio-economic reforms (CASER), which forum organizers consider “as important as the lives of the people.”

According to the release, “[CASER] will lead to the resolution of the fundamental and basic problems.”

The forum aimed to provide an understanding of the talks, discuss the merits of CASER, among other advocacies.

Last month, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Brigadier General Dinoh Dolina, criticized the NDF in Negros for the practice of recruiting children as soldiers.

Dolina criticized the New People’s Army and NDF for brainwashing children and exposing them to a culture of violence and terrorism./WDJ