GRP-NDFP Interim Peace Agreement

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Country/entity: Philippines
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: GRP-NDFP Interim Peace Agreement
Date: 9 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: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Philippines-NDF process
Parties: For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines: Silvestre H. Bello III, GRP Panel Chariperson, Hernani A. Braganza, Member GRP Panel, Rene V. Sarmiento, Member GRP Panel, Angela A. Librado-Trinidad, Member Grp Panel, Antonio B. Arellano, Member GRP Panel.

For the National Democratic Front of the Philippines: Fidel V. Agcaoili, NDFP Panel Chairperson, 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:
ATTY. EFREN C. MONCUPA Consultant, GRP Panelen
ATTY. EDRE U. OLALIA Legal Consultant, NDFP Panel
SEC. JESUS G. DUREZA Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON NDFP Chief Political Consultant
AMB. IDUN TVEDT Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process
Royal Norwegian Government
Description: Largely aims to promote the implementation of a number of other named agreements. Includes amnesty provisions for NDLP prisoners.

Agreement document: PH_180609_GRP-NDFP Interim Peace Agreement.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: Page 3, ARTICLE VI

Section 2. The Parties continue to be guided by the mutually acceptable principles of national sovereignty, democracy and social justice and that no precondition shall be made to negate the inherent character and purpose of the peace negotiations.
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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
Page 1, ARTICLE I
To this Interim Peace Agreement, the components and agreements of which are appended hereto and made integral parts hereof as follows:

A. The Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ARRD) and National Industrialization and Economic Development (NIED) sections of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) that are signed by the Negotiating Panels of the Parties;
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: Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Land reform and management
Page 1, ARTICLE I
To this Interim Peace Agreement, the components and agreements of which are appended hereto and made integral parts hereof as follows:

A. The Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ARRD) and National Industrialization and Economic Development (NIED) sections of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) that are signed by the Negotiating Panels of the Parties;
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 2, ARTICLE 1

C. Coordinated Unilateral Ceasefires (CUC) which shall be effective upon signing by the Negotiating Panels. The CUC shall evolve into a Bilateral Ceasefire (BCF).
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: Transitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon proper
Page 1, ARTICLE I
To this Interim Peace Agreement, the components and agreements of which are appended hereto and made integral parts hereof as follows:

Page 2...

B. Amnesty Proclamation for all NDFP-listed Political Prisoners that is signed and certified by the President as urgent to obtain the concurrence of Congress in order to effect their expeditious release;

Page 2, ARTICLE III

Section 3. The GRP shall release political prisoners in expeditious and acceptable modes based on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the CARHRIHL pending the effectivity of the Amnesty Proclamation.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: Page 2, ARTICLE III

Section 3. The GRP shall release political prisoners in expeditious and acceptable modes based on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the CARHRIHL pending the effectivity of the Amnesty Proclamation.
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.

GRP-NDFP INTERIM PEACE AGREEMENT

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), particularly the Executive Department, including its agencies,

and

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for itself and in behalf of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People's Army (NPA).

hereinafter the "Parties",

DETERMINED to resolve the almost fifty (50) years of armed conflict by addressing its root causes through peace negotiations and comprehensive agreements on social, economic, political and constitutional reforms;

COGNIZANT that the protracted peace negotiations between the Parties for the last thirty (30) years may now successfully culminate in substantive agreements with the demonstrated commitment of the present leadership of the GRP and NDFP to attain a just and lasting peace, and

COMMITTED to accelerate the peace negotiations and conclude a Final Peace Agreement by forging the component agreements contained in The Hague Joint Declaration,

Hereby AGREE:

ARTICLE I

To this Interim Peace Agreement, the components and agreements of which are appended hereto and made integral parts hereof as follows:

A. The Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ARRD) and National Industrialization and Economic Development (NIED) sections of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) that are signed by the Negotiating Panels of the Parties;

B. Amnesty Proclamation for all NDFP-listed Political Prisoners that is signed and certified by the President as urgent to obtain the concurrence of Congress in order to effect their expeditious release;

and

C. Coordinated Unilateral Ceasefires (CUC) which shall be effective upon signing by the Negotiating Panels.

The CUC shall evolve into a Bilateral Ceasefire (BCF).

ARTICLE II

The Parties reaffirm all previously signed Agreements including the Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and recognize them as binding and effective.

ARTICLE III

Section 1.

The Parties shall continue to work in order to complete the remaining sections of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER), then proceed to the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms (CAPCR) and finally to the Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces (CAEHDF).

The RWCs, RWGs, Bilateral Teams, Ceasefire and other Committees previously constituted by the Parties shall continue to hold working meetings, which may be simultaneous, during and between formal talks to accomplish their assigned tasks and ultimately the tentative comprehensive agreements for submission to the Panels.

Section 2.

The Parties shall be guided by the Road Map to Peace and General Schedule that are appended hereto as integral parts hereof to accelerate the peace negotiations.

Section 3.

The GRP shall release political prisoners in expeditious and acceptable modes based on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the CARHRIHL pending the effectivity of the Amnesty Proclamation.

ARTICLE IV

Section 1.

The Parties shall implement the Joint Agreement in Support of Socioeconomic Projects of Private Development Organizations and Institutes signed on March 16, 1998.

Section 2.

A Joint Consultative and Advisory Committee to advice, recommend and facilitate the implementation of this Interim Peace Agreement shall be formed accordingly.

ARTICLE V

Section 1.

A Bilateral Preparatory Committee shall be formed by the Parties to lay the ground for the visit of Prof. Jose Maria Sison to the Philippines.

Section 2.

Both Parties shall cooperate in facilitating the visit of Prof. Jose Maria Sison to the Philippines to confer with GRP President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and discuss the peace process and other matters, celebrate the conclusion of an Interim Peace Agreement (IPA), as well as hold a Peace Conference at the earliest possible time, subject to the necessary political, legal, security and technical requirements.

ARTICLE VI

Section 1.

The Parties affirm that formal peace talks shall continue in order to resolve the armed conflict for the attainment of a just and lasting peace.

Section 2.

The Parties continue to be guided by the mutually acceptable principles of national sovereignty, democracy and social justice and that no precondition shall be made to negate the inherent character and purpose of the peace negotiations.

Section 3.

Effective measures shall be undertaken forthwith to do away with ali obstacles and hindrances inconsistent with the agreements and to the continuation of the peace negotiations.

Signed in Oslo, Norway,

2018.

SILVESTRE H. BELLO III GRP Panel Chairperson

FIDEL V. AGCAOILI NDFP Panel Chairperson

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 A. LIBRADO-TRINIDAD Member, GRP Panel

ASTERIO B. PALIMA Member, NDFP Panel

ANTONIO B. ARELLANO Member, GRP Panel

BENITO E. TIAMZON Member, NDFP Panel

WITNESSES:

ATTY.

EFREN C. MONCUPA Consultant, GRP Panelen

ATTY.

EDRE U. OLALIA Legal Consultant, NDFP Panel

SEC. JESUS G. DUREZA Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

PROF.

JOSE MARIA SISON NDFP Chief Political Consultant

AMB. IDUN TVEDT Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process

Royal Norwegian Government