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| Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza |
MANILA -- Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza challenged the media
to engage the entire country in the pursuit of peace.
Speaking at the 22nd National Press Forum of the Philippine Press
Institute (PPI) on May 24 at the Jen Hotel in Pasay City, Dureza — himself a
former journalist who headed the PPI from 2013 to 2016 — said the media have a
unique role in peacebuilding that no other group can perform.
“The only group that engages the public is media,” he said. “This is
why the role of the media is very important, especially in our peace work.”
Secretary Dureza said the public will not appreciate the milestones
achieved in the peace process if they are informed only after agreements are
signed and not while the process is going on.
“We feel that even if we sign agreements with the MILF (Moro Islamic
Liberation Front) and the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New
Peoples’ Army-National Democratic Front), if the public will not know the basic
information and will only learn about it after the agreement was signed, they
will not give their support,” he said.
Dureza said while government engages the “smaller tables” of the MILF
and the CPP-NPA-NDF, it needs to get the support of the “bigger table” of the
public.
“The media is vital because you address our bigger table almost on a
24/7 basis,” he said.
Dureza was a veteran journalist before becoming a public servant. Aside
from the PPI, he also headed media groups like the regional chapter of the
Publisher Association of the Philippines and the Davao Press Club. (OPAPP PR)
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