Internal Procedures in the Conduct of GRP-MILF Coordingating Committees of Cessation of Hostilities Meetings

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Internal Procedures in the Conduct of GRP-MILF Coordingating Committees of Cessation of Hostilities Meetings
Date: 17 Feb 1999
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: BGen. Jose Proceso T. Torrelavega, AFP, GRP-CCCH Chairperson;
Sultan Saifudin Tomawis, MILF-CCCH Chairperson
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement on the internal procedures for the GRP-MILF Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), providing a general format for the CCCH meetings/sessions to follow, as well as stating that the meetings/sessions will not be focused on negotiation positions, but rather the meeting/session will be an open and candid forum to find solutions for issues or problems related to AGCH.

Agreement document: PH_990217_Internal Procedures.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: 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, 1. A connoted by the term coordinating committee, both GRP and MILF Coordinating committees on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) agreed in principle will endeavor, to work openly and candidly within the context of the signed agreements and pursuant to their mandates powers and functions.

Page 1, 2. The coordinating meetings or sessions will be a forum to find solutions on problems and issues relative to the AGCH in order to pave the way for the continuance and success of the peace process.

Page 1, 3. The CCCHs will be a venue to foster understanding and shall focus on identifying problems and issues, establishing or reaffirming common grounds and interests, and finding appropriate solutions rather than focusing on negotiation positions.

Page 1, 4. CCCH coordinative meetings/sessions shall be mainly characterized by a free-wheeling exchange of ideas or discussions following a workshop concept.

Page 2, 7. Any changes and/or addendum of the herein established rules and procedures shall be duly and officially agreed upon by the GRP-MILF CCCH.
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: GRP-MILF Peace Process: Compilation of Signed Agreements & other related Documents (1997-2010); (MILF Peace Panel/Asia Foundation, 2010), pp. 53-54.

INTERNAL PROCEDURES IN THE CONDUCT OF GRP-MILF COORDINATING COMMITTEES ON CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES MEETINGS.

As connoted by the term coordinating Committee, both GRP and MILF Coordinating Committees on cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) agreed in principle and will endeavour, to work openly and candidly within the context of the signed agreements and pursuant to their mandated powers and functions.

The coordinating meeting of sessions will be a forum to find solutions on problems and issues relative to AGCH in order to pave the way for the continuance and success of the peace process.

The CCCHs will be a venue to foster understanding and shall focus on identifying problems and issues, establishing or reaffirming Common grounds and interests and finding appropriate solutions rather than focusing on negotiation positions.

CCCH coordinative meetings sessions shall be mainly characterized by a free-wheeling exchange of ideas or discussions following a workshop concept.

These meetings/sessions will generally follow the format as follows:

Formal Opening Amenities

Recap and review of the previous session/meeting

Reiteration of Agenda (as agreed during previous session meeting or as coordinated with the Secretarial)

Group dynamics/Workshop (GD/W)

Presentation and Formalization of the output of the GD/W

Adoption and Documentation

Next meeting coordination,

(1) Venue and Data

(2) Agenda

(3) Other Matters

Closing/ Adjournment

ΝΟΤΕ

(1) At any point during the meeting/session a recess for an executive session or other purpose maybe requested and declared.

(2) The minutes of the meeting/session (Recap) shall be jointly prepared by THE secretariat of both Committees and shall be distributed to all members on or before the start of the next meeting/session.

(3) The formal output of document shall likewise be prepared jointly by the Secretariat for submission to the GRP-MILF Panels and Technical Committees ASAP.

(4) Minutes of any executive session will not be recorded.

(5) Press/media will only be allowed during the Formal Opening and Closing parts of the meeting/session.

6. The Confidentiality of documents and Proceedings of the GRP-MILF CCCH meetings shall be observed.

7. Any changes and/or addendum of the herein established rules and procedures shall be duly and officially agreed upon by the GRP-MILF CCCH,

Signed this 17th day of February 1999 at the Tanghalang Michael Clark, Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.

FOR THE GRP.

BGEN JOSE PROCESO T TORRELAVEGA AFP (CHAIRPERSON, GRP CCCH)

FOR THE MILF,

SULTAN SAIFUOIN TOMAWIS (CHAIRPERSON, MILF CCCH)