Former political prisoner Ed dela Torre said the public should recognize the role that citizens play in attempting to achieve an equitable and durable peace.
He imparted the speech at the Ecumenical Prayers for Peace event on Saturday at the University Hotel in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
It was hosted by the Political Officers League of the Philippines (POLPhil) and attended by church leaders, academicians, government officials, businessmen and single parents.
A former priest, dela Torre is among the leaders of the recently formed “Atin Ito Coalition,” an advocacy group that seeks to increase Filipinos’ understanding of the controversial matters surrounding the West Philippine Sea.
Led by Atin Ito volunteers, a civilian convoy carrying supplies to frontliners in the West Philippine Sea recently said it will not back down from Chinese aggression in the country’s waters.
In a statement, Rudy “Kid” Caneda, POLPhil National President, said that innovative peace talks “demand a departure from the narrow confines of partisan politics and the embrace of a holistic approach that addresses the interconnected socio-economic, political, and cultural dimensions of the conflict.”
“It is essential that any peace agreement includes provisions for comprehensive socio-economic reforms, land rights, rural development, and the equitable distribution of resources,” it added.
“By addressing the underlying causes of poverty, inequality, and marginalization, we can create the conditions for sustainable peace and development,” POLPhil said.