Nonkilling Bill Submitted to the Congress of the Philippines
The Movement for a Nonkilling Philippines has succeded in submitting an historical draft Bill “Declaring a Peaceful and Nonkilling Philippines as a National Goal and Establishing ‘The Philippine Index of Killing/Nonkilling’ for the Purpose”. In its 14th Congress, Senator Villar introduced the bill in the Senate of the Philippines which was based on a draft by Dr. Abueva. The particulars of the Bill are in “S.B. 2569: Declaring a Peaceful and Nonkilling Philippines as a National Goal and Establish a Department of Peace in Pursuite thereof.” This is being updated and revised to be introduced in the 15th Congress. The historical document can be downloaded from CGNKs website.
The Movement for a Nonkilling Philippines has also made public a 80 page booklet with the title “LET’S BUILD A NONKILLING PHILIPPINES! (Tungo sa Kalinaw at Walang Pagpatay!)” where its goals, rationale and proposals are explained in detail. The document can also be downloaded here. The Movement was formally launched on October 6, 2009, with the stated goal of “bringing about a life-sustaining and nonkilling Philippines” and is headed by its Lead Convenor Jose V. Abueva, CGNK Governing Council member. The Movement also counts with the support of the Philippine Institute for Global Nonkilling, established at Kalayaan College.
Other founding members include Albert E. Alejo, S.J. (Ateneo de Davao University); Dennis M. Arroyo (National Economic Development Authority); Loreta N. Castro (Center for Peace Education, Miriam College); Randolf S. David (University of the Philippines); Ma. Oliva Z. Domingo (University of the Philippines); Howard Q. Dee (Assisi Development Foundation); Miriam C. Ferrer (Sulong CARHRIHL); Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (House of Representatives); Jose C.J. Magadia, S.J. (Ateneo de Manila University); Natalia M. Morales (University of the Philippines); Macapado A. Muslim (Mindanao State University); Reynaldo D. Pacheco (Gunless Society / Kapatiran Party); Teresita Quintos-Deles (Former Presidential Adviser, Peace Process); Jovito R. Salonga (Former Senate President, Kilosbayan); Karen Tañada (Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, Ateneo de Manila University); and Benjamin T. Tolosa (Ateneo de Manila University).
The Movement draws from continues experiences of nonkilling discovery in the Philippines. In 2004 the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Foundation and the Kalayaan College at Riverbanks Center organized a series of lectures on the feasibility of a nonkilling society in the Philippines. As a result, a collection of eighteen essays was published in the book Towards a Nonkilling Filipino Society, offering general and specific ideas for an agenda for research, policy and action toward a nonkilling and life sustaining Filipino society. In 2007 the Kalayaan College also published a Filipino translation of Nonkilling Global Political Science (Walang-pagpatay na Agham Pampolitikang Pandaigdig) that was instrumental in the configuration of the Movement.
