A forum on the “The Quest for Just and Lasting in the Philippines” was held at the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels, Belgium last September 24,2025. Sponsored by the Left Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Pernando Barrena of E.H. Bildu, the forum provided a platform for open discussion on the issue of peace in the Philippines. Several offices of members of the European Parliament, diplomats, human rights advocates, organizations of the Filipino diaspora, church people, and solidarity friends of the Filipinos people attended the Forum.
MEP Barrena welcomed the participants and expressed solidarity with the Filipinos struggle against structural injustices and oppression.
He was followed by IBON Foundation founder and renowned Filipino activist Antonio Tujan Jr.., who spoke on the acute crisis in the Philippines as the basis of the widespread unrest and repression which is the reason for conditions of unpeace in the Philippines. He also stressed the importance of lasting peace in the Philippines in relation to the aspirations for regional and global peace amidst the US warmongering against China.
Cristina Palabay of the Philippine Human Rights Alliance KARAPATAN, discussed the impunity of human rights violations of the brutal Duterte presidency and the continuing repressive policies under the present Marcos Jr. regime. She said that, “It is not true that under Marcos Jr. the human rights situation is better. He uses the same playbook as previous regimes which stiffles dissent. Extra-judicial killings, abductions, and bombings of communities suspected of supporting the New People’s Army (NPA) continue. De facto martial law is imposed in the countrysides.”
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Peace Negotiating Panel member Coni Ledesma explained that the root causes of revolution in the Philippines should be addressed to achieve a just and lasting peace. She elaborated on the history of decades of peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and NDFP, which produced the several important agreements, including The Hague Declaration and the ComprehensiveAgreement on the Respect of Human Rights and InternationalHumanitarianLaw (CARHRIHL).
As she ended her speech, Coni Ledesma suggested that perhaps the European Parliament could pass a resolution to support the peace process in the Philippines. In the past, two resolutions on the peace had been passed by the European Parliament.
Ms. Ledesma concluded her speech by saying, “While achieving just and lasting peace the Philippines seems like a dream, it is a dream worth fighting for.”
Senator Gorka Elejabarrierta of the Spanish Parliament expressed his support for the Filipinos struggle for freedom and democracy. He shared his insights on the lessons of the Basque national liberation movement in achieving a lasting peace. He noted the significance of the fact that the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG), is the Third Party Facilitator in the peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDFP .
During the open forum that followed, discussions on how to engage the European Parliament and other global institutions were brought up. The issues of Marcos Jr’s violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the electoral process in the Philippines were also discussed.
MEP Fernando Barrena’s words of encouragement echoed the audiences thoughts. “The peace process effort is fragile but encouraging. With the help of the international community, a politcal way of out of the conflict could guarantee the respect of the fundamental rights of all the people. This conference hopes to be a contribution towards peace with justice in the Philippines.”