CBCP won’t mediate in gov’t, NDF talks

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has rejected a request to mediate between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF).

In a statement yesterday, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said the request of a party – whom he did not name – was rejected because they cannot take the role of initiating, convening, mediating or presiding over a dialogue between the NDF and government.

Villegas said the bishops could only facilitate a dialogue as herald of the Gospel and servant of the kingdom of God.

He said all efforts to resolve the conflict between the two parties, including appointment of top-level negotiators and tapping foreign governments like Norway, have failed to achieve their purpose.  

“And while insurgents complain that some of their leaders have been arrested while on safe-conduct passes, it is our understanding that such passes were issued to allow their representatives to attend negotiations and conferences, and not for the purpose of consolidating membership,” he said.

The New People’s Army (NPA) has used the ceasefire during a dialogue with the government to recruit members, especially in remote villages, he added.

He urged qualified laymen to contribute to a dialogue and to foster that only the spirit of openness and sincerity can make negotiations promising.