Agreement on an Interim Joint Ceasefire

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Country/entity: Philippines
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Agreement on an Interim Joint Ceasefire
Date: 5 Apr 2017
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Philippine Insurgencies (1968 - )
The Maoist Insurgencies (1968 - )

Philippines-NDF

The Philippines have been defined by a series of center-periphery and often ideologically Maoist, separatist insurgencies. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), began its war against the central Philippine government in 1968 through their armed wing – the New People’s Army (NPA). Further legitimacy was gained through the establishment of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in 1973. Grievances were predominantly opposed to the corruption and repression under the authoritarian Marcos regime.

Philippines-Cordillera

With the overthrow of Marcos’ regime in 1986, the CPP factionalized further to take on more localized characteristics. The Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) broke away from the NDF in 1986 to focus on the protection of the Cordilleran people and land in northern Luzon. Hostilities were formally ended in July 2011, with an agreement signed between the central government, the CPLA and the Cordillera Bodong Administration (CBA) that allowed for the absorption of CPLA fighters into the Philippine Army and the re-working of the CBA-CPLA into a socio-development organisation.

Philippines-RPM-P

Meanwhile, purge among the CPP in the early 1990s, encouraged the formation of a parallel party, the Revolutionary Workers Party (RPM-P). Their armed wing, the Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) which had carried out a number of assassinations during the 1980s at the bequest of the CPP, followed suit and allied themselves with the RPM-P in 1997 forming the (RPM-P-RPA-ABB). Severely weakened by the split with the CPP and with the arrest of several key figures, the RPM-P-RPA-ABB signed a peace agreement in December 2000, which encouraged the RPM-P’s branch in Mindanao to break away in 2001.

The CPP-NPA has only participated in intermittent talks with the government. Talks halted in 2004 when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration sought closer ties with the U.S. in the war on terror and added the CPP-NPA to the list of terrorist organisations, renewing violence. Following the launch of a counter-insurgency by the Philippine government, negotiations have been further delayed due to suspected internal differences between the CPP ‘old guard’ and younger members.

The Moro Insurgency (1968 - )

Philippines-Mindanao

The Moro Insurgency began in 1968, in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago after the killing of Moro Commandos, the so-called Jabidah Massacre, by the Philippine Army following a plot to invade Sabah province in Malaysia. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) captured a swath of territory in the mid-1970s. In an attempt to stem the violence, the constitution was reformed and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created 1990 granting a devolution of power to the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Following the establishment of the ARMM, the MNLF splintered into a range of smaller groups including Islamic factions such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayef Goup (ASG). The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed in 2014.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Philippines-NDF process
Parties: For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP): Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III Chairperson of the GRP Panel, Hernani A. Braganza Member, GRP Panel, Rene V. Sarmiento Member, GRP Panel, Angela L Trinidad Member GRP Panel, Antonio B. Arellano Member GRP Panel
For the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP): Fidel V. Agcaoili Chairperson of the NDFP Panel, Julieta S. de Lima Member, NDFP Panel, Coni K. Ledesma Member, NDFP Panel, Asterio B. Palima Member, NDFP Panel, Benito E. Tiamzon Member, NDFP Panel
Third parties: WITNESSES:

Sec. Jesus G. Dureza Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Prof. Jose Maria Sison Chief Political Consultant, NDFP

Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan Adviser, GRP Panel
Luis G. Jalandoni Senior Adviser, NDFP Panel

Elisabeth Slåttum
Third Party Facilitator For the Royal Norwegian Government
For the Royal Norwegian Government
Description: Ceasefire agreement intended to end hostilities until a more comprehensive ceasefire agreement is signed.

Agreement document: PH_170405_Agreement on an Interim Joint Ceasefire.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: Socio-economic reconstruction→Taxation→Reform of taxation
Page 1,

Matters regarding a single governmental authority and taxation shall be discussed and resolved in forging the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms within the framework of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, ANNEX A

AGREEMENT ON AN INTERIM JOINT CEASEFIRE

The Negotiating Panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) hereby agree on an Interim Joint Ceasefire (IJC) and for this purpose:

1. To direct their respective Ceasefire Committees to meet even in-between formal talks, to discuss, formulate, and finalize the guidelines and ground rules for the implementation of this agreement.

2. To put into effect the ceasefire upon the approval and signing of the
guidelines and ground rules as referred hereunder.

They further agreed on the following objectives:

1. To generate goodwill and trust in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.
2. To encourage the forging of a more stable and comprehensive Joint Ceasefire Agreement.
3. To provide an enabling environment for eventual and early signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms.

The said guidelines and ground rules shall include:
a) Rules governing the presence of armed units and elements of both Parties in local communities and the creation of buffer zones.
b) An agreement on prohibited, hostile, and provocative acts; and
C) The ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanisms in relation to the implementation of the ceasefire and the handling of complaints and alleged violations.

Matters regarding a single governmental authority and taxation shall be discussed and resolved in forging the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms within the framework of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines.

The interim joint ceasefire agreement shall be effective until a permanent ceasefire agreement is forged as part of the Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces (Final Peace Agreement).
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: https://www.ndfp.org/ndfp-grp-agree-forge-interim-joint-ceasefire-agreement/

ANNEX A

AGREEMENT ON AN INTERIM JOINT CEASEFIRE

The Negotiating Panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) hereby agree on an Interim Joint Ceasefire (IJC) and for this purpose:

1. To direct their respective Ceasefire Committees to meet even in-between formal talks, to discuss, formulate, and finalize the guidelines and ground rules for the implementation of this agreement.

2. To put into effect the ceasefire upon the approval and signing of the

guidelines and ground rules as referred hereunder.

They further agreed on the following objectives:

1. To generate goodwill and trust in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

2. To encourage the forging of a more stable and comprehensive Joint Ceasefire Agreement.

3. To provide an enabling environment for eventual and early signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms.

The said guidelines and ground rules shall include:

a) Rules governing the presence of armed units and elements of both Parties in local communities and the creation of buffer zones.

b) An agreement on prohibited, hostile, and provocative acts;

and

C) The ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanisms in relation to the implementation of the ceasefire and the handling of complaints and alleged violations.

Matters regarding a single governmental authority and taxation shall be discussed and resolved in forging the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms within the framework of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines.

The interim joint ceasefire agreement shall be effective until a permanent ceasefire agreement is forged as part of the Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces (Final Peace Agreement).

Signed on the 5th day of April 2017 in Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.

Signatories:

Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III Chairperson of the GRP Panel

Fidel V. Agcaoili Chairperson of the NDFP Panel

Hernani A. Braganza Member, GRP Panel

Julieta S. de Lima Member, NDFP Panel

Rene V. Sarmiento Member, GRP Panel

Coni K. Ledesma Member, NDFP Panel

Angela L Trinidad Member GRP Panel

Asterio B. Palima Member, NDFP Panel

Antonio B. Arellano Member GRP Panel

Benito E. Tiamzon Member, NDFP Panel

WITNESSES:

Sec. Jesus G. Dureza Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

Prof. Jose Maria Sison Chief Political Consultant, NDFP

Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan Adviser, GRP Panel

Luis G. Jalandoni Senior Adviser, NDFP Panel

Elisabeth Slåttum

Third Party Facilitator For the Royal Norwegian Government

For the Royal Norwegian Government