Retired judge to head Davao peace panel in talks with Reds

DAVAO CITY – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has named a retired judge to lead the local peace talks with Communist insurgents operating in the city.

Carpio bared Wednesday that she has already asked retired judge Ridgway Tanjili to chair the Davao City Local Peace Committee (LCPC), which will be composed of City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) head Ma. Luisa Bermudo, Lawyer Eliza Lapeña from the City Legal Office, Captain Joselito Areja of Barangay Malabog, Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles, representative from the private sector, and two other consultants.

Tanjili, who was appointed judge by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in early 2000, is a law graduate of the Ateneo de Davao University, and a holder of a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Tanjili headed the Public Attorney’s Office-Davao for 16 years, before he was named judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

The city mayor said she has also talked to two consultants, but she refused to name them at this time. She said both have extensive experience in peace negotiations.

The LCPC starts to buckle down to work this October and will have one year to negotiate with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the city.

Paquibato, Marilog, Baguio, and Calinan Districts in this city are known to have strong NPA presence. The NPA guerrilla fronts operating in the city are the Fronts 54, 56, and Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 1, 2, and reportedly a newly-created PBC 3.

“They (members of the LCPC) will try their best to deliver unsay dapat mahitabo (what should be done),” the mayor said.

If nothing significant happens by November 2018, Carpio said she will disband the committee.