Month: January 2020

LICAS News reporter, Philippines
December 27, 2019

Pope Francis prayed for victims of Typhoon Phanfone that left at least 28 people dead and thousands of others homeless in the central Philippines on Christmas Day.

“I join in the pain that affected the dear people of the Philippines because of the typhoon Phanfone,” said the pontiff during his weekly Angelus prayer.

The pope then invited those gathered at St. Peter’s Square to pray a Hail Mary for the Filipino people, “whom I love so much.”

“I pray for the numerous victims, for the injured. and for their families,” he said.

In 2015, Pope Francis visited the Philippines to meet with victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan that devastated the central part of the country.

Most of those who died in the latest disaster came from the province of Iloilo where six members of a family were found dead after being swept away by floodwaters.

Typhoon Phanfone made landfall in the central Philippines on Christmas Eve, causing damage to buildings and destroying houses on its path.

By the Movement Against Tyranny
December 27, 2019

In the spirit of the season, the Movement Against Tyranny appeals to all concerned parties and the Filipino people to earnestly work for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippine (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

We see the possible resumption of the talks as a silver lining in a year that has seen a worsening state of tyranny and human rights violations committed against persons and communities critical of the government, especially those accused of being fronts or having sympathies with the NDFP.

Instead of publicly vilifying and killing suspected rebels and their alleged sympathizers ala Oplan Tokhang, or pining for a military junta in the guise of a revolutionary government, it would be much more productive for the Duterte regime to just sit down with the NDFP to discuss how to work together to end the roots of the armed conflict, including how to uphold human rights and achieve much needed social, economic and political reforms.

We appeal on both sides to respect the temporary ceasefire until January 7 as a confidence building measure towards the resumption of the talks. Initial snags should not be used to derail the bigger objective of bringing both sides to the negotiating table.

To the hawks, militarists, peace spoilers and those profiting from war, including the billions on intelligence funds and political largesse disguised as rebel reintegration programs, we say enough. It is time to give peace a chance.

Our people will certainly appreciate and support efforts by both sides to arrive at a just and meaningful resolution of the armed conflict. The whole nation awaits with hope for that time when everyone can work together to end tyranny and achieve a just and lasting peace in our land.#