File Photo: The Oslo Joint Communique was signed on Nov. 23, 2023 by officials from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), aiming for a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict in the country. (PCO)
The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) and the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) have called on the faithful to join them and other organizations in calling for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP.)
EBF said in its April 10, 2025 statement that “change is possible when we live out the spirit of Easter, that is, through service to God and to God’s people…. ‘In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.’ (1 Peter 1:3.) Easter is a declaration, not just another day. A statement of the possibility of change – that God is at work even in the most sinister tomb; even in the darkest moment; that the story continues after what appeared to be the end – the stone, the cross, and the silence.” It added: “As we declare once more that “Christ is risen!” this year, we are also encouraged to think that we are capable of rising above the tomb of despair and grief. We can overcome old habits. We can rise from brokenness. We can rise from fear, division, and despair. The resurrection of Jesus is God’s eternal “yes” to the possibility of change—not just deep within us but in the world around us.”
Easter brings hope to those who pray for the reign of peace and righteousness. A glimmer of hope for the community longing for justice. For the exhausted, the faithless, and the spirit that wonders if it can begin anew, there is hope. The fact that Jesus was able to overcome death is an inspiring sign for the prospect of freedom. Therefore, we must not only commemorate the resurrection as an event in history, but must experience it firsthand. To become part of a community of the resurrection, we must possess the fortitude to hope, the humility to change, the forbearance to rise up, and the courage to struggle for liberation, EBF said.
The following signed the statement: Bishop Joseph G. Agpaoa, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), co-chairperson, EBF; The Rt. Rev. Nestor G. Poltic, Sr., Prime Bishop, Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP), co-chairperson, EBF; Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco (Ret.), United Methodist Church (UMC), General Secretary, EBF; Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella, UMC, treasurer, EBF, and; The Rt. Revd. Emelyn G. Dacuycuy, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), EBF auditor. EBF is a fellowship of bishops from the UCCP, UMC, ECP, IFI, and the Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines.
In its easter message, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) urged the Filipino people “to join us in embracing the joy and hope brought about by the resurrection of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Today is a precious opportunity to reflect on the transforming power of His resurrection in our lives, particularly how we can work and pray together to fulfill His promise of an abundant life for all (John 10:10). In Jesus, we now live in the triumph He has secured for us. Let us keep our spirits high, for through His Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome every force of unpeace in our land.”
PEPP said “a few weeks ago, we witnessed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose iron-fisted rule led to thousands of extrajudicial killings. Today, as we witness this moment of reckoning, we are reminded that righteousness exalts a nation (Prov. 14:34). This arrest marks a significant step towards justice and accountability, the upholding of human rights, and the affirmation of God’s gift of human dignity.” We have learned that power wielded with a heavy hand, such as in the “war on drugs,” will reap more suffering. The same heavy handedness was also observed after the administration of former President Duterte unilaterally terminated the peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDFP in 2017 and the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in 2018. Red tagging and the violence that came with it became very prevalent.
Unfortunately, his successor, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not pursue peace negotiations with the NDFP nor abolish the NTF-ELCAC. Under his administration, the use of such laws as the Anti-terrorism Act (ATA) and the Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (ATFA) against civil society organizations continued, PEPP lamented. “This Easter of 2025, we hope that Pres. Marcos Jr., who now wields the hand of power, will follow St. Paul when he said: ‘Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others’ (Phil. 2:3-4). Therefore, a hand that exalts a nation is one that promotes peace, protects the environment and its defenders, provides food for every table, ensures land ownership and cultivation for the rightful owners, compensates workers fairly, invests in children’s futures, prioritizes public health, and secures the safety of the population from foreign threats,” PEPP argued.
“We thus call on the GRP and the NDFP to follow through with the promise of their November 23, 2023 Joint Statement and to finally conduct formal peace talks. Let us bring to the negotiating table representatives of the victims of violence brought about by either side of the armed conflict, and listen to their cries for a just and lasting peace,” PEPP stressed. “We also call on the Filipino people to remain empowered by the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and join us in praying and working for peace based on justice. We can start by voting for candidates who show their sincerity to address the roots of the armed conflict – poverty, landlessness, inaccessibility to services and inequitable distribution of resources – during times when they are not courting our votes.” The statement was signed by the following: Archbishop Emeritus Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, D.D.; Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City, co-Chairperson, PEPP; The Rt. Rev’d. Rex B. Reyes, Jr., Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP), co-Chairperson, PEPP; Bishop Emeritus Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., D.D., head, PEPP Secretariat; Sr. Mary John D. Mananzan, OSB, Office of Women and Gender Concerns-Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (OWGC-CMSP); Rev. Dr. Aldrin M. Peñamora, Executive Director, Peace and Reconciliation Commission-Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PARC-PCEC), and; (Sgd.) Ms. Minnie Anne M. Calub, General Secretary, National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP.) (DIEGO MORRA)
