Interim Cessation of Hostilities in Buldon, Maguindanao

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Interim Cessation of Hostilities in Buldon, Maguindanao
Date: 27 Jan 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: M/Gen. Joselin B. Nazareno, AFP, GRP Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairman
Atty. Lanang Ali, MILF Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairman
Third parties: -
Description: Provincial Governor of Maguindanao to provide assistance to insure the return to office of the Mayor of Buldon, and to assist government agencies in relief and rehabilitation of evacuees and the re-opening of schools in the affected areas. Agreed that the GRP and MILF forces would maintain ‘as is, where is’ positions within the area of conflict prior to discussions on the matter, and that Philippine National Police (PNP) would continue its mandated role to enforce all laws and maintain peace and order. MILF agreed to move and not establish check points, roadblocks etc. along the roads networks from Parang to Buildon and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and MILF agreed to refrain from provocative actions. Provided for the withdrawal of all AFP forces at the option of the AFP based on its evaluation of the peace and order situation.

Agreement document: PH_970127_Interim Cessation of Hostilities in Buldon.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: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 1, 7. The Provincial Government of Maguindanao, within its mandate, will assist the
concerned government agencies in the relief and rehabilitation of evacuees, and the reopening of schools in the affected areas.
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: Page 1, 4. The MILF will remove and shall not establish checkpoints, detachments, roadblocks, and other similar points along the road networks from Parang to Buldon, Maguindanao.
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→Socio-economic development
Page 1, Preamble
Whereas, the attainment and preservation of peace and order is a universal concern and
aspiration of all individuals;

Page 1, Preamble
[...] Whereas the return to normalcy in the Municipality of Buldon is a general concern of the GRP, MILF and all sectors as it will insure the delivery of vital resources and services and complement efforts towards the attainment of peace in the area;

Page 1, 7. The Provincial Government of Maguindanao, within its mandate, will assist the
concerned government agencies in the relief and rehabilitation of evacuees, and the reopening of schools in the affected areas.
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
Now, therefore, the Technical Committee on Cessation of Hostilities of the GRP and the MILF hereby covenant and agree;

Page 1, 2. The GRP and the MILF forces will maintain “as is, where is” positions within the area of conflict in Buldon, Maguindanao, prior to further discussions on the matter on February 9, 1997.

Page 1, 3. The PNP elements in the Municipality of Buldon, Maguindanao, assisted by local CAFGU elements, shall continue its mandated role to enforce all laws and maintain peace and order within the area.

Page 1, 5. The AFP and MILF will refrain from making provocative actions against each other such as sniping, strafing, mortar shelling and deployment of additional troops.

See Army and Rebel/Opposition Group Reconfiguration.
Police: Page 1, 3. The PNP elements in the Municipality of Buldon, Maguindanao, assisted by local CAFGU elements, shall continue its mandated role to enforce all laws and maintain peace and order within the area.
Armed forces: Page 1, 2. The GRP and the MILF forces will maintain “as is, where is” positions within the area of conflict in Buldon, Maguindanao, prior to further discussions on the matter on February 9, 1997.

Page 1, 5. The AFP and MILF will refrain from making provocative actions against each other such as sniping, strafing, mortar shelling and deployment of additional troops.

Page 1, 5. The AFP and MILF will refrain from making provocative actions against each other such as sniping, strafing, mortar shelling and deployment of additional troops.

Page 1, 6. All AFP forces deployed in Buldon, Maguindanao from January 1, 1997 up to the present will be withdrawn from the area at the option of the AFP based on its evaluation of the peace and order situation.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 2. The GRP and the MILF forces will maintain “as is, where is” positions within the area of conflict in Buldon, Maguindanao, prior to further discussions on the matter on February 9, 1997.

Page 1, 4. The MILF will remove and shall not establish checkpoints, detachments, roadblocks, and other similar points along the road networks from Parang to Buldon, Maguindanao.

Page 1, 5. The AFP and MILF will refrain from making provocative actions against each other such as sniping, strafing, mortar shelling and deployment of additional troops.
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: GRP-MILF Peace Process: Compilation of Signed Agreements & other related Documents (1997-2010); (MILF Peace Panel/Asia Foundation, 2010), pp. 5-6.

Interim Cessation of Hostilities in Buldon, Maguindanao

Whereas, the attainment and preservation of peace and order is a universal concern and aspiration of all individuals;

Whereas, it is incumbent on the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to maintain and ensure the enforcement of all its laws, rules and regulations;

Whereas, recent events in the Municipality of Buldon, Maguindanao have disturbed the peace and order in the area;

Whereas the return to normalcy in the Municipality of Buldon is a general concern of the GRP, MILF and all sectors as it will insure the delivery of vital resources and services and complement efforts towards the attainment of peace in the area;

Now, therefore, the Technical Committee on Cessation of Hostilities of the GRP and the MILF hereby covenant and agree;

Witnesseth:

1. The Provincial Governor of Maguindanao will provide assistance to insure the return to office of the Municipal Mayor of Buldon, Maguindanao.

2. The GRP and the MILF forces will maintain “as is, where is” positions within the area of conflict in Buldon, Maguindanao, prior to further discussions on the matter on February 9, 1997.

3. The PNP elements in the Municipality of Buldon, Maguindanao, assisted by local CAFGU elements, shall continue its mandated role to enforce all laws and maintain peace and order within the area.

4. The MILF will remove and shall not establish checkpoints, detachments, roadblocks, and other similar points along the road networks from Parang to Buldon, Maguindanao.

5. The AFP and MILF will refrain from making provocative actions against each other such as sniping, strafing, mortar shelling and deployment of additional troops.

6. All AFP forces deployed in Buldon, Maguindanao from January 1, 1997 up to the present will be withdrawn from the area at the option of the AFP based on its evaluation of the peace and order situation.

7. The Provincial Government of Maguindanao, within its mandate, will assist the concerned government agencies in the relief and rehabilitation of evacuees, and the reopening of schools in the affected areas.

Entered this 27th day of January 1997 at Dawah Center, Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Signed:

M/Gen. Joselin B. Nazareno, AFP

Chairman, GRP Committee on Cessation of Hostilities

Atty.

Lanang Ali

Chairman, MILF Committee on Cessation of Hostilities