Philippine ecumenical group remembers FVR’s peace advocacy

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) has remembered former president Fidel Ramos’ own advocacy to promote peace.

In a statement, the PEPP extended its deepest sympathies to the family of Ramos, who passed away last July 31 at the age of 94.

The PEPP described him as an outstanding statesman who, aside from the historic role he played during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, made several peace initiatives.

“His legacy as a minted member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who heeded the clamor of the people at EDSA and his subsequent commitment to attaining true and lasting peace through principled negotiations during his presidency will always shine as bright honors to the Filipino people,” said the PEPP.

The PEPP is co-chaired by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and Ecumenical Bishops Forum Inc. Right Reverend Rex Reyes Jr. The other members of the PEPP are National Council of Churches in the Philippines general secretary Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches national president Bishop Noel Pantoja, Office for Women and Gender Concern-Congregation of Major Superiors Sister Mary John Mananzan, and PEPP secretariat head emeritus Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez Jr.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, through Executive Order 125, was created during the Ramos presidency. It was tasked to promote and pursue peace between the government and various armed groups.

He also formed the National Unification Commission which was tasked to organize consultations among various sectors throughout the country to arrive at a just and lasting peace for all. These consultations became the basis for his administration’s “Six Paths to Peace.”

For the peace process, he supported confidence building measures and establishing formal joint negotiating frameworks for the different peace talks that the government pursued.