Church Leaders Urge Philippine President to 'Seize the Moment' for Justice and Peace
Episcopal News Service. October 29, 1992 [92216]
Recent correspondence between church leaders in the United States and the new president of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos, has raised hopes for a possible settlement to 23 years of civil unrest.
The new spirit of optimism emerged in letters last summer between Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning and Ramos in which Browning encouraged the newly inaugurated president to "engage in a serious dialogue on the substantive issues that perpetuate this long struggle" and urged him to address "the root causes of the conflict...."
Rebels led by the New People's Army (NPA) and Philippine government troops have battled in northern regions of the country. The search for peaceful negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political movement that sets policy for the NPA, was unsuccessful during the Marcos and Aquino administrations.
Browning reminded Ramos of the "profound solidarity that exists between the Philippine Episcopal Church (PEC) and the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A." As presiding bishop, Browning was the head of the Philippine Episcopal Church until it became an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion in 1990. "For too many years now, I have agonized over the continuing spiral of violence and suffering.... I have heard the cry of the people that they want peace for their country," Browning said.
In response, Ramos sent correspondence recognizing Browning's commitment to peace in the Philippines and expressed his hope that "this auspicious exchange of messages will signal the start of mutually beneficial relations between my government and the Episcopal Church, with your church as the catalyst for this prosperity.
"Your concern, involvement and cooperation certainly give me strength and inspiration to pursue our national goals with confidence and determination," Ramos said.
At the request of the PEC, Browning has participated in high-level conversations with U.S. State Department officials, urging them to end support of the Philippine government's so-called "total war policy," a strategy adopted in 1987 to end the insurgency by military means.
In a letter hand-delivered to Ramos by PEC leaders, Browning reported that he "remains in regular dialogue with the [U.S.] State Department," supporting U.S. foreign policy that seeks a negotiated settlement in the Philippines. "I will continue this dialogue as long as our Philippine church partners desire," he said.
Following the correspondence between Browning and Ramos, Browning joined 18 leaders of U.S. denominations that belong to the National Council of Churches (NCC) in coauthoring and sending a letter to Ramos describing the current situation as "a kairos moment in the political life" of the Philippines. The leaders encouraged Ramos to "seize the moment to help inaugurate an era of justice and peace in the Philippines for the sake of all God's people."
The NCC letter expressed support for Ramos's recent appointment of a peace panel and a National Unification Commission to formulate and recommend a comprehensive peace package for the Philippines. "These are significant bold initiatives which are essential if there is to be a negotiated solution to the conflict," the letter stated. "As people who believe that peace in the Philippines will help to end the long suffering of your people and contribute dramatically to peace in our world, we commend you for taking these essential steps and for taking them so expeditiously."
In response to the NCC letter, Ramos expressed his "deep gratitude" for the support of his government's "pursuit of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace."