SEVERAL PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS and leaders gathered on July 16 at the Santo Domingo Church Compound, Quezon City to discuss and deliver a strong message to the Marcos regime regarding peace talks. On that day, they formed the Council of Leaders for Peace Initiatives (CLPI) to push for peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

CLPI is composed of academics, lawyers, former deans, bishops and various church leaders, and prominent peace advocates. The group called on Marcos Jr to express a “clear and unqualified commitment to pursuing a peaceful and negotiated solution to the long-running armed conflict” in the Philippines. It said a just peace is imperative for a better state of the nation.

The group emphasized the lack of subsequent steps and actions after the Oslo Joint Statement following its release by the GRP and NDFP on November 23, 2023. It is a declaration of intent or aspiration to reopen the talks and formulate a framework on how to carry it out.