A World Peace Advocate Urges the IBP for the Future of Justice in the Philippines

  Philippine lawyers have a freshly sworn in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The former Executive Vice President Rosario T. Setias-Reyes was appointed as the National President of IBP, replacing Attny.

  Vincente M. Joyas who served the organization from 2013, at the inauguration ceremony held at the Dignitaries Lounge at the Supreme Court on July 7th, 2015. Setias-Reyes is the first female National President of the IBP, the official organization of all Philippine lawyers whose names appear in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court. IBP’s national board members for 2015-2017 were sworn in before the SC Clerk of Court.

  At the occasion, a group of selected guests were also invited to witness the scene. A Peace Advocate and Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (“HWPL”), Mr. Man Hee Lee attended the ceremony and the dinner held afterwards to give a congratulatory message upon the special invitation from IBP along with Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim of International Women’s Peace Group (“IWPG”).

  Chairman Lee, as known his achievement is especially noteworthy in the nation, played a decisive role in ending a 40-year conflict of Mindanao between Catholic and Muslim communities. At the inaugural dinner, Chairman Lee spoke about the significance of the enactment of an international law for the cessation of war and role of judicial officers and urged the national board members of IBP and all judicial leaders to realize the necessity of amending the international law to terminate all wars. He stated that the road blocks in achieving enduring peace within this world is because there is a lack of an international constitutional law to ban wars and war crimes.

  Seeing this matter, Chairman Lee has appealed to world leaders to demonstrate their commitment to peace by signing the enactment of war into international law. “If each nation’s head and leaders desire for world peace and truly love their people, they should work for this amendment and sign on the agreement of the enactment of an international law to cease wars. For the future of justice in the Philippines, all the honorable officers who are here with me today have to urge the nations to participate in establishing a law that prohibits the further producing and developing of weapons. In case if any states violate the law and continues to carry out any non-peaceful activities, a form of penalty and punishment should be applied under an international law,” said Chairman Lee.

  Chairwoman Kim also called on the officers present especially woman leaders to actively work for peace by saying “Numerous international agreements and principles for peace have been drawn up and ratified until today. However, war and civil unrest have not stopped in this world. The only way to define the right framework for the nations to bring forth peace is Chairman Lee’s initiative on the enactment of an international law for peace. We, the women, have the responsibility to protect our husbands, children, and our neighbors.”

  President Setias-Reyes acknowledged the tremendous efforts of two Chairpersons for the last several years, visiting nations and promoting the need of the implementation of the law for peace. As she became the new President, Setias-Reyes agreed to serve as the member of HWPL’s Peace Advisory Council to work for and bring forth such enactment. In the mean time, in his latest visit in the Philippines in late May this year, Mr. Lee has already met the former President Attny. Joyas with a few prominent political and judicial leaders through a private meeting arranged in Manila. Attny. Joyas, who has served as the member of HWPL’s Peace Advisory Council since then, again expressed his support in assisting Mr. Lee’s proposal on the enactment of an international constitution to permanently end wars and conflicts and will further collaborate with international lawmakers to implement the proposal.

  The value of precious lives and resources destroyed in war are a result of decisions made by individuals and these individuals make justifications for their actions to continue to practice war crimes in many parts of the world. As the IBP officers have agreed and pledged to protect citizens and villages of the Philippines through advising and supporting HWPL in the amendment process, it is realized that peace has come one step closer.

A World Peace Advocate Urges the IBP for the Future of Justice in the Philippines

  Philippine lawyers have a freshly sworn in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The former Executive Vice President Rosario T. Setias-Reyes was appointed as the National President of IBP, replacing Attny.

  Vincente M. Joyas who served the organization from 2013, at the inauguration ceremony held at the Dignitaries Lounge at the Supreme Court on July 7th, 2015. Setias-Reyes is the first female National President of the IBP, the official organization of all Philippine lawyers whose names appear in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court. IBP’s national board members for 2015-2017 were sworn in before the SC Clerk of Court.

  At the occasion, a group of selected guests were also invited to witness the scene. A Peace Advocate and Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (“HWPL”), Mr. Man Hee Lee attended the ceremony and the dinner held afterwards to give a congratulatory message upon the special invitation from IBP along with Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim of International Women’s Peace Group (“IWPG”).

  Chairman Lee, as known his achievement is especially noteworthy in the nation, played a decisive role in ending a 40-year conflict of Mindanao between Catholic and Muslim communities. At the inaugural dinner, Chairman Lee spoke about the significance of the enactment of an international law for the cessation of war and role of judicial officers and urged the national board members of IBP and all judicial leaders to realize the necessity of amending the international law to terminate all wars. He stated that the road blocks in achieving enduring peace within this world is because there is a lack of an international constitutional law to ban wars and war crimes.

  Seeing this matter, Chairman Lee has appealed to world leaders to demonstrate their commitment to peace by signing the enactment of war into international law. “If each nation’s head and leaders desire for world peace and truly love their people, they should work for this amendment and sign on the agreement of the enactment of an international law to cease wars. For the future of justice in the Philippines, all the honorable officers who are here with me today have to urge the nations to participate in establishing a law that prohibits the further producing and developing of weapons. In case if any states violate the law and continues to carry out any non-peaceful activities, a form of penalty and punishment should be applied under an international law,” said Chairman Lee.

  Chairwoman Kim also called on the officers present especially woman leaders to actively work for peace by saying “Numerous international agreements and principles for peace have been drawn up and ratified until today. However, war and civil unrest have not stopped in this world. The only way to define the right framework for the nations to bring forth peace is Chairman Lee’s initiative on the enactment of an international law for peace. We, the women, have the responsibility to protect our husbands, children, and our neighbors.”

  President Setias-Reyes acknowledged the tremendous efforts of two Chairpersons for the last several years, visiting nations and promoting the need of the implementation of the law for peace. As she became the new President, Setias-Reyes agreed to serve as the member of HWPL’s Peace Advisory Council to work for and bring forth such enactment. In the mean time, in his latest visit in the Philippines in late May this year, Mr. Lee has already met the former President Attny. Joyas with a few prominent political and judicial leaders through a private meeting arranged in Manila. Attny. Joyas, who has served as the member of HWPL’s Peace Advisory Council since then, again expressed his support in assisting Mr. Lee’s proposal on the enactment of an international constitution to permanently end wars and conflicts and will further collaborate with international lawmakers to implement the proposal.

  The value of precious lives and resources destroyed in war are a result of decisions made by individuals and these individuals make justifications for their actions to continue to practice war crimes in many parts of the world. As the IBP officers have agreed and pledged to protect citizens and villages of the Philippines through advising and supporting HWPL in the amendment process, it is realized that peace has come one step closer.

Maguindanao unveils peace monument, courtesy of Korean peace advocates

ByFerdinandh B. Cabreraon May 26 2015 5:04 pm

BULUAN, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 26 May) – While most city and municipal halls or plazas have the statue of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Maguindanao province opted not to put a hero or a certain personality for its monument.
Instead, it has a big white dove perched on a globe spreading its wings – called the Mindanao Peace Monument – as the people’s way of expressing their quest for a lasting peace in the region.
It was donated by the advocacy group Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) led by South Korea peace activist Man Hee Lee, and the Schincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple.
The unveiling of the monument was one of the highlights during Monday’s Peace Summit.
Lee’s group has been one with the Mindanao Bishops-Ulama Conference, in his group’s attempt to help various religious groups come to an understanding as far as peace is concerned.
Lee, in his speech, stressed that 80 percent of armed conflicts around the world is rooted on religious differences.
“If we all believe in one God, then religion is not the problem,” he stressed during a translated speech at the peace summit.
Lee said the efforts and stand of Maguindanao province and its people calling for peace and supporting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) are a way forward into achieving the dream of every peace-loving individual.
During the event, Maguindanao province and Lee’s group agreed to celebrate every 24th of January as international day of peace or HWPL day where they signed a peace covenant.
Before the monument unveiling, participants first had a peace march from the Buluan Gym going to the Rajah Buayan Peace Center. Also participating were children and the security sectors waving flaglets and placards containing peace messages.
Among those present at the peace summit and delivered their messages of support were Sheik Khalifa Nando of the Shariah Supreme Court of the MILF Central Committee, Bishop Antonio Ledesma of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, and retired Marine commanding general Benjamin Dolorfino, who was dubbed as “peace warrior” because of his distinct approach at dealing with the Mindanao insurgency.
The three highlighted the aspiration of the Moro people to achieve peace in Mindanao, and expressed their belief that the BBL will play a crucial role in attaining peace and stability in the island.
Sixteen-year-old Narimbai Utto, who represented the youth sector, expressed that she could not bear watching young boys forced to stop going to school to work as “padyak” drivers or to work in the farms to help their families make both ends meet.
Utto was the class valedictorian of Tukanalipao National High School, in the same village where the Mamasapano encounter took place last January. Sixty-four people died during the clash, including 44 from the police’s Special Action Force, 17 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and three civilians.
Utto said the war has made them even poorer because displacements continue to hamper their livelihoods and worsened their living conditions.
She appealed for the passage of the BBL and to stop the war, and instead address the welfare and education of Mindanao’s youth.
Dr. Alicia Manandog, of the Sultan Kudarat State University, in her speech representing the women sector, pushed for equality among tribes and religions, and not to treat women as second class citizens should the BBL be enacted into law.
Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, who is vocal in his campaign for the BBL, has appealed to all sectors to work together to achieve peace and give no chance for violence to happen again.
The governor recalled that during his youth, while helping her mother earn extra income with their ice candy store, armed men affiliated with rebel groups would come with pistols tucked in their waists.
“I don’t want the children anymore to grow in the culture of violence,” he said.
North Upi, Maguindanao Mayor Ramon Piang said that since the BBL is being supported by majority stakeholders of Mindanao, then the Mindanaons should decide for their own and not be dictated by outsiders.

Read morehttp://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/05/26/maguindanao-unveils-peace-monument-courtesy-of-korean-peace-advocates/