• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros-ACE) has expressed strong support for localized peace engagements in Negros Occidental, aligning with the community-based peace initiatives being promoted by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Negros-ACE president, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., disclosed on Monday that community-level peace engagements are already being practiced in parts of Negros Occidental, although not all local government units (LGUs) possess the expertise to handle peace negotiations and conflict resolution.
Escalante said Negros-ACE, which composes all the local chief executives in the province, emphasized that several local officials remain willing to sit down and participate in peace processes at the local level to avoid more bloodshed, following deaths of 24 suspected New People’s Army rebels in separate armed clashes in Toboso and Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
In its statement, Negros-ACE described those incidents as a tragic loss that “cuts through the hearts of every Filipino, especially our dear Negrosanons.”
The organization reaffirmed its support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in maintaining peace and security while also urging communist rebels to abandon armed struggle.
“The loss of life is too high a price to pay for peace and social equality in our country,” the statement read.
Negros-ACE called on all sectors to pursue constructive and democratic means in addressing long-standing issues of social injustice, inequality, and marginalization.
The group also stressed the importance of healing and unity, urging communities to choose “healing over retaliation, unity over division, and compassion over violence.”
In his recent visit to Negros Occidental, Defense Secretary Teodoro commended the peacebuilding and reintegration programs of the Negros Occidental provincial government led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Teodoro also praised local mayors and chief executives for encouraging communist rebels to surrender and reintegrate into society.
He, however, firmly rejected proposals to revive national-level peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA), and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
According to Teodoro, centralized peace negotiations only prolong insurgency and undermine democratic institutions. Instead, the Department of National Defense and the National Security Council continue to support localized and community-based peace engagements.
As to the call of Governor Lacson for school administrators to closely monitor students who may be vulnerable to recruitment by rebel groups, Escalante said discussions on vigilance against recruitment activities have become part of regular Local School Board meetings in Cadiz City, even before the recent armed encounters involving students. Escalante underscored the need to protect the youth from involvement in armed conflict, reminding educators and communities to remain vigilant against organizations allegedly linked to insurgency recruitment activities.*
