Agreement for General Cessation of Hostilities

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Agreement for General Cessation of Hostilities
Date: 18 Jul 1997
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/territory
Peace process: Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties: Amb. Fortunato Il Abat, GRP Panel Chairman;
Ghazail Jafar, MILF Political Affairs Central Committee Vice Chair, MILF Panel Chairman
Third parties: Attested: Ruben D. Torres, Executive Secretary;
Sec. Renato S. De Villa, Dept. of National Defense

Witnesses for GRP:
Maj. Gen. Joselin B. Nazareno, GRP Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairman
Lt. Gen. Edgardo E. Batenga (Ret.), GRP Technical Committee Member
ASec. Jovenal F. Lazaga, GRP Technical Committee on Agenda Setting Chairman
Atty. Grace M. Tan, Office of the President Director
Atty. Alberto A. Bernardo, NPUDC Executive Director;

Witnesses for the MILF:
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Central Committee Member
Sammy Al Mansour, MILF-BIAF Deputy Chief of Staff
Omar Habas, MILF Central Committee Member
Abdulmanaf Mantawil, MILF Secretariat, Technical Committee Chairman
Atty. Omar B. Umpar, MILF Legal Counselor
Description: This is a ceasefire agreement that mandates further meetings to discuss implementation of this Agreement, and the overall resumption of formal peace talks.

Agreement document: PH_970718_Agreement for General Cessation of Hostilities.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: Groups→Indigenous people→Rhetorical
Page 1, Preamble
Whereas, while an informal ceasefire has been observed between the GRP and the MILF, with and end in view of finding a just and lasting solution to the centuries old problem of the Bangsamoro and native inhabitants of Mindanao, it becomes necessary that peace and order be assured;
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: Gender→Men and boys→Gender neutral wording
Page 1, Preamble
Know all men by these presents:
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: 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, Preamble
Whereas, while an informal ceasefire has been observed between the GRP and the MILF, with and end in view of finding a just and lasting solution to the centuries old problem of the Bangsamoro and native inhabitants of Mindanao, it becomes necessary that peace and order be assured;

Page 1, Preamble
Whereas, in view of the foregoing, it becomes imperative for the GRP and the MILF to enter into an agreement for general cessation of hostilities and to agree to continue the formal peace talks;

Page 1, 1. To commit the armed forces of the GRP and the MILF to a General Cessation of Hostilities;

Page 1, 2. To direct their respective Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities to meet on 20 July 1997, and on such dates thereafter, but not to exceed two (2) months, to draw and finalise the guidelines and ground rules for the implementation of this Agreement;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 1. To commit the armed forces of the GRP and the MILF to a General Cessation of Hostilities;
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 1. To commit the armed forces of the GRP and the MILF to a General Cessation of Hostilities;
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://peacemaker.un.org/philippines-generalcessationhostilities97

IN THE NAME OF GOD THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL

Agreement for General cessation of hostilities.

Know all men by these presents:

WHEREAS, peace talks are now being undertaken between representative of the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

WHEREAS, while an informal ceasefire has been observed between the GRP and the MILF, with the end in view of finding a just and lasting solution to the centuries old problem of the Bangaamoro and native inhabitants of Mindanao, it becomes necessary that peace and order be assured.

WHEREAS, in view of the foregoing, it becomes imperative for the GRP and the MILF to enter into an agreement for general cessation of hostilities and to agree to continue the formal peace talks;

Now, therefore, the GRP and the MILF, through their undersigned authorised representatives, agree, as they hereby agreed on the following:

To commit the armed forces of the GRP and the MILF to a General Cessation of Hostilities;

To direct their respective Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities to meet on 30 July 1997, and on such dates thereafter, but not to exceed two (2) months, to draw and finalise the guidelines and ground rules for the implementation of this Agreement and

To resume and proceed with the formal peace talks in a venue to be mutually agreed upon between the GRP and the MILF Panels.

This Agreement shall take effect on the 21st day of July 1997.

SO AGREED.

FOR THE GRP:

AME, FORTUNATO U. ABAT (Chairman, GRP Panel)

ATTESTED:

RUBEN D.TORRES (Executive Secretary)

WITNESSES

MA* GEN.

JOSELIN B. NASARENO (Chairman, Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities)

LT GEN EDGARDO E. BATENGA (RET) (Member, Technical Committee)

ASEC.

JOVERAL F. *AZAGA (Chairman, Technical Committee on Agenda Setting)

ATTY.

GRACE M. TAN (Director, Office of the President)

ATTY.

ALBERTO A. BERNARDO (Executive Director, NPUDC)

FOR THE MILF:

GHAZALI JAAFAR (Vice Chair for Political Affairs Central Committee, MILF Chairman, MILF Panel)

ATTESTED:

SEC. RENATO S. DE VILLA (Dept.

of National Defence)

WITNESSES:

MOHAGHER IQBAL (Member, Central Committee MILF

SAMMY AL MANSOUR (Deputy Chief of Staff, BIAF MILF)

OMAR HABAN (Member Central Committee MILF)

ABDULMANAF MANTAWIL (Chairman, Secretariat MILF, Technical Committee)

ATTY.

OMAR B. UMPAR (MILF LEGAL COUNSELOR)