Degamo tells rebels: ‘War is not an option’

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — "We don't need bullets to achieve peace. War is not an option," Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Tuesday told the New People's Army rebels, highlighting the need to strengthen and sustain programs for development of the province.

Degamo underscored this message in his welcome speech during a peace forum attended by civilian, military and police officials, and representatives from different sectors and civil society organizations.

Quoting the words of the late pope, St. John Paul II, “the new definition of peace is development,” the governor assured the people that his administration will focus on development, such as providing more health services and building and improving roads and infrastructure.

Degamo also said his administration is giving more emphasis on providing livelihood and protection to marginalized farmers and fisherfolk, a way that would prevent them from returning to the NPA, while ensuring food security in Negros Oriental.

The governor said the provincial and local governments here must sustain the bayanihan programs, initiated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as development efforts so that the people will no longer be tempted to return to or join the insurgency movement.

“We should let our NPA brothers understand the people of Negros Oriental love peace,” Degamo said, as heA also reiterated his earlier announcement of possible peace talks with the rebels at the local level.

Degamo said he will initiate the peace negotiations with the local NPA, whose numbers have already dwindled over the past years.

Military officials say there are less than 50 armed NPA members in Negros, many of them mostly in Negros Occidental and only a handful in Negros Oriental and who are mostly mobile.

The governor also lauded the organizers and participants of the peace forum saying that “this is a healthy indication that we all want peace to prevail in our province and are willing to work as one to achieve this” He said further: "Nobody wins a war. It is evil as this would result in more death and suffering of our people, especially the innocent ones.”

The Peace Forum, aimed at convincing the rebels to join the localized peace talks and ceasefire, was initiated by the Oriental Negros Children’s Advocacy Network (ONCAN), headed by Marietta Jambora as lead convenor. Among those who attended were Major General Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, and Milo Ibrado, consultant of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). (FREEMAN)