Agreement on a Stand-Down for the Resumption of the Formal Peace Talks Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines

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Country/entity: Philippines
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Agreement on a Stand-Down for the Resumption of the Formal Peace Talks Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
Date: 8 Jun 2018
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: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES: SILVESTRE A. BELLOY, GRP Panel Chairperson, HERNANI A. BRAGANZA Member, ANGELA A. LIBRADO-TRINIDAD Member
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES: FIDEL V AGCAOILI, NDFP Panel Chairperson, JULIETA S. DE LIMA Member, ASTERIO B. PALIMA Member
Third parties: WITNESSES:

FRANCISCO J. LARA, JR. Chairperson GRP Ceasefire Committee

RACHEL F. PASTORES NDFP Legal Consultant

PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON NDFP Chief Political Consultant

AMB. IDUN TVEDT Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process

Royal Norwegian Government
Description: A ceasefire agreement intended to be replaced with a more comprehensive ceasefire at a later stage.

Agreement document: PH_180609_Agreement on a Stand-Down.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: Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of civilians
Page 1,

The Stand-Down shall be subject to the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), especially the protection of the civilian population and civilians together with their property
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: No specific mention.
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,

HEREBY AGREE to a Stand-Down of their respective armed units and personnel in consideration of the forthcoming resumption of the formal peace talks, in order to provide through goodwill and confidence-building measures, the positive atmosphere conducive to moving forward and completing the peace negotiations and the implementation of agreements entered into or may be entered into.

The Stand-Down shall be declared and announced simultaneously by both parties one (1) week before the agreed date of resumption of the formal talks.

Stand-Down shall be understood to mean temporary cessation of hostilities in which the contending armed units and personnel of the Parties stay where they are ("as is where is"), take an active defense mode, and shall not commit any offensive action

or operation against combatants and civilians.

The Stand-Down shall be subject to the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), especially the protection of the civilian population and civilians together with their property

Any movement of the respective armed troops and personnel of any Party which may be considered as a provocative and/or hostile act must be avoided.

Each Party shall designate one of its Panel members to coordinate on matters related to the implementation of the Stand-Down. They shall work on measures to prevent the escalation of hostilities that may arise from certain incidents. No retaliatory act shall be taken by either Party.

The Stand-Down shall take effect immediately upon its declaration and shall remain effective until replaced by a Coordinated Unilateral Ceasefire (CUC).

Either Party may terminate this Stand-Down Agreement and such termination shall take effect seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of notice by the other Party.

The Parties shall disseminate this Stand-Down Agreement to their respective forces. This Stand-Down Agreement shall be published in major national daily newspapers mutually agreed upon by the Parties.
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: Originally obtained from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, link no longer working.

AGREEMENT ON A STAND-DOWN FOR THE RESUMPTION OF THE FORMAL PEACE TALKS

BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP)

AND

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES (NDFP)

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), particularly the Executive Department, including its Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and its armed auxiliary forces,

and

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), including the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army (NPA), and its people's militia,

hereinafter the "Parties,"

HEREBY AGREE to a Stand-Down of their respective armed units and personnel in consideration of the forthcoming resumption of the formal peace talks, in order to provide through goodwill and confidence-building measures, the positive atmosphere conducive to moving forward and completing the peace negotiations and the implementation of agreements entered into or may be entered into.

The Stand-Down shall be declared and announced simultaneously by both parties one (1) week before the agreed date of resumption of the formal talks.

Stand-Down shall be understood to mean temporary cessation of hostilities in which the contending armed units and personnel of the Parties stay where they are ("as is where is"), take an active defense mode, and shall not commit any offensive action

or operation against combatants and civilians.

The Stand-Down shall be subject to the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), especially the protection of the civilian population and civilians together with their property

Any movement of the respective armed troops and personnel of any Party which may be considered as a provocative and/or hostile act must be avoided.

Each Party shall designate one of its Panel members to coordinate on matters related to the implementation of the Stand-Down.

They shall work on measures to prevent the escalation of hostilities that may arise from certain incidents.

No retaliatory act shall be taken by either Party.

The Stand-Down shall take effect immediately upon its declaration and shall remain effective until replaced by a Coordinated Unilateral Ceasefire (CUC).

Either Party may terminate this Stand-Down Agreement and such termination shall take effect seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of notice by the other Party.

The Parties shall disseminate this Stand-Down Agreement to their respective forces.

This Stand-Down Agreement shall be published in major national daily newspapers mutually agreed upon by the Parties.

Signed in Utrecht, The Netherlands, 08 June 2018.

SILVESTRE A. BELLOY

GRP Panel Chairperson

FIDEL V AGCAOILI

NDFP Panel Chairperson

HERNANI A. BRAGANZA Member

JULIETA S. DE LIMA Member

ANGELA A. LIBRADO-TRINIDAD Member

ASTERIO B. PALIMA Member

WITNESSES:

FRANCISCO J. LARA, JR.

Chairperson GRP Ceasefire Committee

RACHEL F. PASTORES NDFP Legal Consultant

PROF.

JOSE MARIA SISON NDFP Chief Political Consultant

AMB. IDUN TVEDT Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process

Royal Norwegian Government