PHILIPPINES: Archbishop backs role for left in government

A bishop involved in peace efforts between the government and communist rebels says the Church should support the so-called "legal left" joining mainstream politics.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro told UCA News today [March 2] that an active role by legitimate leftwing parties at national and local level could help the peace process.

"I see the 'legal left's' entry into our political system as being good," Jesuit Archbishop Ledesma said.

Leftist groups "give voice to sectors of society that normally do not have a voice in our political system."

The legal left emerged in post Marcos electoral politics in 1987 with the Partido ng Bayan (nation's party). It failed to win any Senate seats and its two candidates who won in the House of Representatives lasted just one term.

The movement later moved to exploit the new Party List [1] system that aimed at helping under-represented political groups.

Two candidates are running for the Senate on May 10
The government has been holding peace talks with exiled leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its political umbrella organization the National Democratic Front (NDF) and New People's Army (NPA), since exploratory talks were started in the 1980s under Corazon Aquino.

They were suspended when President Gloria Arroyo's government did not contest the CPP-NPA-NDF's inclusion in the United States and European Union's lists of terrorist organizations in 2002.

Siegfried Candelaria, a government peace negotiator, agrees with Archbishop Ledesma.

"The future of peace lies in getting all sides involved in the political arena and away from the battle front," he said.

"I realize some military and rightists are afraid if leftists are elected into our political scene they might just grab power," Candelaria said. "But that is after all the democratic system and the risk we must take."

He believes the Church and all institutions should get behind this push to involve the left in politics.

Archbishop Ledesma says there are "new stirrings" in the Church that shows it wants a bigger role in the peace process.

He and Bishop Deogracias Iniguez of Kalookan, who have been involved informally in ecumenical peace efforts, have now been designated to represent the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) [2].

"I see our official designation as showing the CBCP wants to become more involved in the peace process," the archbishop said.

"Whenever we have a seminar, both the NDF and government panels send representatives, so we help in keeping the dialogue open," said the archbishop.

Church urges politicians to address peace [3]
Human rights victims 'should take priority over Marcos jewels' [4]
Religious Leaders See Hope for Peace if New Negotiators Broaden Consultation [5]
Church Must Work Harder For Justice And Peace [6]

March 2nd, 2010

[UCAN]