A fisherfolk group dared President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to pursue peace negotiations with groups that advance “reasonable aspirations of any civilized society.”
Manila Regional Trial Court’s junking of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as terrorists further supported the call to return peace negotiations with “revolutionary” groups, fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said.
“Peace talks would not only address the roots of local armed conflict, but will also pave the way for a national patriotic unity against foreign encroachments and military aggressions,” the group said on Friday, Sept. 23.
While Pamalakaya pushes for the return of peace negotiations with the said groups, they likewise highlighted its importance in settling the adoption of active and independent foreign policies which they branded as “crucial” amid the West Philippine Sea dispute between China and the Philippines.
“In these trying times that the threat of foreign aggression is evident, a national unity built on the Filipino people’s patriotic cause is a must to uphold and defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” reiterated Pamalakaya National Spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo.