PBBM admin highlights benefits to countryside, LGUs of enduring peace pact with communist insurgents – Presidential Communications Office

The Marcos administration has enumerated the benefits of an enduring peace agreement with the communist rebels to the countryside and local government units (LGUs).

In an interview over state-run PTV network on Wednesday, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor said there are huge socioeconomic benefits of a peace agreement between the government and the rebels.

Mayor cited the recent peace pact with Muslim separatists in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which he said, resulted in dramatic drop in poverty incidence in the region.

“Bigyan siguro natin ng halimbawa ang nangyari po sa BARMM. Dati po nagkaroon ng comprehensive agreement sa Bangsamoro ang nakita po natin ay ang pag-unlad ng region na ito,” Mayor said, saying the poverty incidence in the region declined to at least around 37 percent from 61.7 percent.

“So ito po ‘yung epekto ng kapayapaan sa isang rehiyon o lokalidad na kung saan umuunlad ang isang lugar dahil nga po wala naman po sigurong negosyante o investor ang pupunta sa isang lugar para magpalaganap ng kanyang negosyo doon dahil nga po ang isang lugar ay magulo,” he said.

Current conflicts such as the war between Ukraine and Russia as well as the Israeli offensive against Hamas militant group have resulted in catastrophic losses on both sides, Mayor pointed out.

“Ang digmaan po ay wala pong idinudulot na mabuti, palaging talo po ang dalawang partido naglalaban dito. Kaya wala pong idudulot ang paglalabanan ng kahit sino kaya maganda po na ang isang lugar ay mapayapa para ito po ay umunlad,” he said.

Also during the interview, Mayor rallied for the support of various government agencies as well as the public to the ongoing exploratory talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who initiated to talk with the rebels after assuming office, envisions a peaceful country for it to develop, he said.

“Kami po ay nanawagan sa tuloy tuloy nyong pagsuporta sa prosesong pangkapayapaan. Ang mithiin po ng ating Pangulo, Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ay ipagpatuloy ang prosesong