Rep. Bataoil takes on the peace talks with Reds at Oslo

"It is a great privilege and honor to be part of the Team of House Legislators sent by Speaker Bebot Alvarez to observe the proceedings on the Second (2nd) Round of Peace Talks between the negotiating panels of the Philippine Government as well as the CPP/NPA/NDF.

TALKS WITH THE REDS. Team from the 17th Congress of the Government Republic of the Philippines (GRP) in Oslo, Norway for the second round of peace talk with the CPP/NPA/NDF. (Pangasinan 2^nd  District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil is at extreme right.

With the socio-political issues that are being engaged in, I am optimistic that President Duterte’s desire to make changes to this nation during his administration especially on socio-economic issues which confront each and every Filipino whether rich or poor and especially the poor, will truly benefit on such changes, more so with the enthusiasm of our Filipino brothers who are on the side of the CPP/NPA/NDF, to pursue such long-time elusive economic developments and progress which will truly result in the prosperity of our country and hopefully will trickle down to the grassroots, especially in the countryside which will bring much faster developments especially in the long neglected remote areas of our archipelagic nation. After my graduation from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City in 1976 till I retired in 2009 after 33 yrs of dedicated service, and up to now, which is already seven years from my mandatory retirement from the uniformed service, armed conflict between the government and the CPP/NPA/NDF has continued to persist throughout the country, even after the anti-subversion law was repelled by Congress upon the recommendation then of President Ramos’ administration to the legislature. The leftist group as well as all left-leaning organizations except the armed wing, are now openly allowed to come down from the mountains and come out in the open to participate in our electoral exercises, which is part of our democratic and constitutional process. We now have party-list representatives from the militant groups such as Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, etc. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares were able to run for a Senate seat and were able to freely run a national campaign throughout the country in the 2007, 2013 and 2016 elections respectively, without any harassment from the government. Unfortunately, they were not able to make to it to the Senate, , probably due to one reason or another, notwithstanding the fact that they have been very vocal legislators in the House of Representatives.
However, the sad thing is, with all those positive developments in the political arena, hostilities between the government troopers and the forces of the CPP/NPA/NDF continue to persist in the different parts of the country. Now, these two opposite panels are sitting down in the 2nd round of talks here in Oslo, Norway, being facilitated through the courtesy of the Royal Norwegian Government, may I request all my fellow Filipinos to PRAY and SUPPORT the 2nd round of PEACE TALKS between the Philippine Government and the CPP-NPA-NDF for A Long and Lasting PEACE which will truly benefit everyone in our country as well as to move our nation fast forward to modernization, industrialization and ultimately the much-sought Prosperity which will truly, not just minimize, but will END POVERTY with socio-economic reforms that is being pursued by the Duterte Administration of our Government as well as the CPP/NPA/NDF!!! Hopefully, the two panels will agree to end almost half-a-century of armed conflict!!! Mabuhay ang Peace Talks!!! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!! Mabuhay ang lahat ng mga Pilipino!!! Kaliwa, Kanan, Gitna, Muslim, Kristiyano, Meztizo o Katutubo, tayong lahat ay Pilipino!!! Mabuhay tayong lahat!!! GOD BLESS US ALL FILIPINOS AND THE WHOLE PHILIPPINES WITH WISDOM, PEACE, ORDER, DEVELOPMENT, PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY!!!"