EDITORIAL

‘Paradigm shift’ on the peace process

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed a “new paradigm” on the peace process by mandating that, henceforth, peace negotiations shall be refocused from one that is centered on dialogue with rebels to one of authentic dialogues with the communities and stakeholders who will formulate and determine, together with government, the enhanced road map for the peace process. Any negotiation with armed groups will be in the context of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).

An email from the Malacanang press office bared this saying “underlying all this is the adherence to the rule of law, primacy of the Philippine Constitution and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.”

Consequently, the President has ordered that the government peace panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front be dissolved to re-align all the peace initiatives in accordance with the new policy. All the other existing peace efforts with other armed groups are likewise directed to proceed in accordance with this directive.

In pursuance thereto, the President has directed the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to carry out a thorough review of all peace initiatives. Covered by this review are the GRP-MILF peace talks, the stalled peace negotiations with CPP-NPA-NDF, the implementation of the GRP-MNLF peace agreement of 1996, the status of past GRP-MILF interim Agreements, the implementation of the GRP-RPM-ABB Agreement and the GRP-CPLA Agreement of 1986 and applicable provisions of RA 9054.

Results of such review will be the bases of an enhanced and new roadmap on the Peace Process to be submitted to the President, through the Executive Secretary for consideration and approval. This reiterates the President’s guidance contained in the Memorandum of Instruction issued on 2 Sept. 2003 to the GRP Peace Panel.

Like we’ve been saying, government in most cases had been reactive instead of proactive in policies, programs and undertakings. The MILF MOA brouhaha wouldn’t have happened if the Malacanang bright boys could have studied the matter more before coming up with the “draft.” Who got something for it? When the dirty lucre of money rears its ugly head, expect mayhem and this would go on until the 20010 elections.