SIXTY-ONE members of the House of Representatives have filed a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to order the resumption of the peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels.
House Resolution 1803, which was filed on March 22, states that reviving the talks would benefit the people, especially the peasants and workers who are expected to benefit from potential agreements on agrarian reform and industrialization.
"It is highly imperative that Congress hear and echo the Filipino people's desire for the resumption of the peace negotiations and for the GRP and the NDFP to forge substantive agreements that will resolve the root causes of the nearly five-decade old armed conflict," the resolution reads.
GRP refers to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines while NDFP stands for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
President Duterte terminated the negotiation with the issuance of a presidential proclamation on November 23, 2017.
A month later, the President signed another proclamation declaring the NDFP/CPP and its armed wing, New People's Army (/NPA), as terrorist organizations. A petition to declare the CPP and NPA as terrorist organization is pending before the court.
Signatories to the resolution urging the administration to continue the peace talks, among others, are Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Raul Daza, Aklan Rep. Carlito Marquez, Negros Occidental 4th District Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Leo Cueva, Negros Occidental 1st Discrit Rep. Melecio Yap Jr., Davao Occidental Rep. Lorna Bautista Bantigan and Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Joel Almario.
Leyte 2nd District Henry Ong, Iloilo 5th District Rep. Raul Tupas, Northern Samar 2nd District Rep. Edwin Ong, Cebu 1st District Gerald Gullas, Cebu 2nd District Wilfredo Caminero, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., North Cotabato 1st District Rep. Jesus Sacdalan and Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu also signed the resolution.
Aside from these lawmakers, members of the so called Magnificent 7 and the Makabayan bloc have also signed the resolution. (SunStar Philippines)