On Community-based Dialogue Project (CBD)
Top Level Policy Dialogue tackles “Prospects for Peace under the Duterte Administration”
ALG
As one of the priority commitments of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, peace talks with communist insurgents (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front/CPP-NPA-NDF) as well as with Moro secessionist groups (Moro Islamic Liberation Front/MILF and Moro National Liberation Front/MNLF) are moving forward with the end in view of attaining a just and lasting peace in the country, especially in Mindanao.
In support of the government’s agenda for peace, the project brought together key stakeholders representing various sectors (government agencies, civil society organizations, security sector, academe, ethnic and religious groups, international organizations) to be informed and, at the same time, be an active participant in the ongoing peace process. The event was well attended with more than 70 participants coming from different areas of the country.
ALG
The dialogue tackled the prospects for peace and implications on the security sector and the local communities. Col. Dickson P. Hermoso, Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) ably presented and discussed the “Peace and Development Roadmap of the Duterte Administration.” The roadmap received positive feedback from the audience especially from the Indigenous Peoples (IP) in attendance.
He shared important updates on the peace process including policy direction, points for negotiations (past and present perspective), various agreements to be pursued, overcoming obstacles and challenges, and possible areas of support or intervention from various groups/sectors. He mentioned that “dialogue” based on trust and confidence is key to the peace process as he recounted his experiences with the CBD project, which he said were an eye-opener and a rewarding one.
ALG
A panel of reactors was invited to share their comments and insights on the roadmap presented by Assistant Secretary Hermoso, namely: Brigadier General Rhoderick Parayno, Commander of the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Ms. Karen Tañada, Executive Director of Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, and Ms. Ma. Karina Limpiado, Peace and Networking Program Officer of Sulong CARHRIHL.
Atty. Marlon Manuel, National Coordinator of the Alternative Law Groups (ALG), who presented the project overview at the start of the dialogue, facilitated the Open Forum, which gave the participants the opportunity to share their views and recommendations for consideration of the government through OPAPP. It was an open, cordial and honest discussion on the way forward.
The CBD project is a partnership among the AFP Human Rights Office (AFP HRO) and Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations (J7), PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (PNP HRAO), Alternative Law Groups (ALG), Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The project is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany (HSF).