Ex-insurgents denounce armed violence, willing to work for peace

Manila: Former rebels have condemned acts of violence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front and expressed willingness to work with the government in attaining peace. The former rebels made the commitment in a two-page manifesto titled "A Call for Unity, Progress, and Collective Healing," the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said in a news release Friday. "Our decision to condemn armed struggle does not mean abandoning our principles. We do not turn our backs on the fight for social justice. Instead, we embrace a new approach to struggle, one that aligns with the rule of law and collaboration among all sectors of society," the manifesto read. The manifesto was signed at the La Breza Hotel in Quezon City during the culmination of the National Peace Advocate Summit 2024. "It is a powerful declaration from those who have walked the path of conflict, now committed to forging a new way forward for themselves and for future gene rations," NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said. It also serves as a guiding document for the anti-insurgency body in implementing programs and initiatives that support the reintegration of former rebels. Source: Philippines News Agency