City Councilor Jimmy Dureza will submit a resolution asking the city council’s presiding officer Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte to organize a local peace panel for the city of Davao.
The city councilor, who is the brother of the Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, said that the local peace panel aims to negotiate with the local armed groups especially the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front and the New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) groups in the city
“As we know, the national government is pursuing a peace negotiation with the NPA for the fortunate resolution of the long peace problem with the said armed group. The Local Government of Davao city is in full support of this peace effort of the national government exhausting all possible means to achieve its end,” said Councilor Dureza during the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday.
He further said that there is a need for us to open our doors in continuing peace negotiations on a local level with the armed groups to ‘diffuse tension and attain a temporary atmosphere of peace by talking peace with the local armed groups.’
He also expressed that this local peace panel will not delay the peace efforts pursued by the national government but will hasten the attainment of a lasting peace in our locality in particular and for the entire country in general.
Currently, the mechanics of the said resolution is being discussed in consultation with the office of the presidential adviser for peace.
