INTRODUCTION
It is my great delight to be among this outstanding group of the peace process consultation convenors and secretariat heads this morning. Outstanding, because despite constraints of time and logistics, you made the NUC consultations an effective reality in your provinces and regions. In so doing, you proved to cynics that, propelled by the spirit of volunteerism and perseverance and a commitment to a shared desire for a just and lasting peace, the impossible could in fact be done.

I also wish to recognize all the others throughout the country who participated in or assisted the NUC consultation process in their areas. You certainly deserve our gratitude and admiration.

The real value of your contribution goes beyond merely organizing a consultation. Through your efforts, you have ensured a truly participative peace process.

I believe the NUC consultation process mobilized a constituency of peace-builders and peacemakers on a scale never achieved before. The potential of the network that it has created must therefore be nurtured and harnessed towards securing peace for all times in ways defined by the people themselves.
PEACE FOR OUR CHILDREN
It is noteworthy that this unprecedented gathering of peace builders from all over the country was ushered in by the voices of our children — singing the glory of our national anthem.

These children are our collective conscience, reminding us of past failures to protect them — whom we dare call the hope of the motherland — and of recent promises to ensure their total human development. These children represent the terrible price we have paid for over forty years of armed conflict in our midst. The fulfillment of such promises will require eradicating in their midst the violence that shrink their choices for full growth and limit their options to mere survival.

These children are the very reason we must pursue peace with greater vigor and determination. We want a peace that is more than just the absence of armed conflict. We want a peace that is in pursuit of community aspirations and national interests — the establishment of a just, prosperous, humane and pluralistic society.
MAJOR PEACE FRONTS
While the NUC finalizes its recommendations, some of the major fronts along which we shall continue to pursue the peace process are already evident.

First, your consultations have begun a very important process of clarifying issues and forging consensus on a peace agenda at national as well as local levels. I believe this must be continued, and i have already instructed the NUC to recommend the appropriate mechanism to continue the community-based consultation process and to integrate the efforts of the non-government constituency to address peace concerns.

Second, I am committed to address the basic root causes of the armed conflicts that you have identified. It is evident that we are called upon to do two main things. First, we must push for reforms to break the structures of poverty and inequity. And second, we must put good governance in place — effective delivery of basic services, eradication of graft and corruption, dedicated service by government employees and implementation of the law characterized by justice and respect for human rights.

Third, I am committed to achieving a peaceful, negotiated settlement with the different armed rebel groups. I seek a principled resolution of the armed conflicts, which neither focus on blame nor surrender on any side, but with dignity for all concerned.

We must facilitate the process by which armed rebel groups can shift their struggle for social, economic and political reform from the battlefield to the non-violent and developmental arena. This will mean the institutionalizing necessary reforms in the socio-economic, political and electoral systems to guarantee an even playing field for all.

Ultimately, we want to see legal and constitutional processes prevail for the resolution of conflict and the achievement of political goals.

And fourth, I am committed to the establishment of effective, responsive mechanisms and programs for honorable reconciliation and reintegration to society. This is why I have tasked the NUC to formulate a viable general amnesty program, so that problems of legal status and security may be addressed.

This is also why the NUC was tasked to evaluate the National Reconciliation and Development Program (NRDP), and recommend a better program that shall be an integral component of a comprehensive peace process. Very clearly, we must be ready to provide life alternatives not just for former rebels but also for our soldiers, policemen and other public servants who have risked their lives in defense of our constitutional system.
CONTINUING THE PEACE PROCESS
While we pursue the peace process, we must continue to protect our democracy, our constitution and our communities. The armed forces of the Philippines must continue to fulfill its constitutional duty to defend the state and our democratic way of life.

Recently, there have been calls for demilitarization and ceasefires. Responsibility for addressing these calls has been devolved to the local government officials and the local military commanders, since they know best the armed conflict situation in their areas.

During your consultations, some of you expressed concern over the inaccessibility of government as a result of too much red tape in the bureaucracy. I have therefore issued executive order no. 89 directing all heads of executive departments and agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations, to implement a policy of accessibility and transparency. They shall post in conspicuous places within the premises of their respective offices their procedures for all public transactions.

In some of your consultations, concerns were expressed about alleged excessive use of military force leading to displacements and hardships for some communities, and alleged human rights violations particularly by members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units. Thus, demilitarization and abolition of the CAFGU were recommended by some quarters.

I firmly believe, however, that the deployment of some of our troops augmented by CAFGUs in still critical areas is crucial to maintain the gains of our government in our overall peace drive.

But given our commitment to protect our people and uphold their rights, I am deeply concerned if even a single abuse is reported. Therefore, I have ordered the Secretary of Justice and the Secretary of National Defense, together with the Presidential Human Rights Committee, to do the following within sixty days:

One, immediately review the policy on the CAFGU and expedite the prosecution of its elements involved in abuses and violations of law;

And two, immediately review and assess the implementation of pertinent issuances and directives, with the view toward the maximum protection of civilians and other non-combatants.

I encourage you to directly submit to Secretary Drilon, Secretary de Villa or Chairman Ordoñez any report or recommendation that you feel must be considered in these reviews.

I am confident that the situation shall soon stabilize in the last few critical areas of the country. When that time comes, we will no longer need to wage war with guns. Our development teams and the civil service will be on the front lines; our battle cry shall then be to wage peace through good governance.
THE FUTURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS
On June 30, the National Unification Commission shall submit its final report. I look forward with eagerness, as do many others in this hall, to the NUC report.

With this event, the peace process does not end, but moves on to a higher stage.

I have instructed the NUC to present to you its own recommendations for successor structures beyond June 30, and to incorporate your comments and suggestions in its final report.

Finally, I have asked the NUC to continue managing the peace process over the month of July and until such time that its successor structures are in place and operational. This shall ensure that we do not lose the momentum of the valuable results of the peace efforts of the last ten months.

Once again, I commend you all for your priceless participation in the peace process and urge you to continue with your work. I ask that you be vigilant as ever to constantly remind us of our responsibilities as public servants.

And maybe if along the way some of us forget or we falter, then tell us, remind us again, of the children. For, as the brilliant and selfless Ka Pepe Diokno so eloquently stated: “There is one dream that all Filipinos share: that our children may have a better life than we have had. We must not give up our dream. We have all the resources — human and natural — to become what we Filipinos choose to be. If we can but release the creative energy of our people, then we will have a nation full of hope and full of joy, full of life and full of love a nation for our children.”

Let us continue what we have begun. Together, in partnership, we can make the difference, to achieve for our children our vision of a brighter land, “Philippines 2000!!!”.

Thank you and good day!!

Maraming salamat po!!