GRP and MILF Joint Press Release

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: GRP and MILF Joint Press Release
Date: 21 Oct 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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties: MGen. Joselin B. Nazareno, GRP Panel Representative;
Atty. Lanang S. Ali, MILF Panel Representative
Third parties: -
Description: Joint Press Release to inform on an urgent meeting held to discuss recent developments which were decidedly adverse to the ongoing peace negotiations. Both GRP and MILF Panels agreed to refer the recent incident to the Independent Fact-Finding Committee, in addition to closely monitoring the situation in the Barira, Buldon, Matanog and adjacent areas, with the decision to further discuss the situation in the upcoming talks on November 12-13, 1997. The Committee Chairmen also expressed their continuing adherence to spirit and the intent of the Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities.

Agreement document: PH_971021_GRP-MILF Joint Press Release.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
Major General Joselin B. Nazerno and Atty. Lanang Ali, Chairman of the GRP-MILF Coordinating Committees on the General Cessation of Hostilities held an urgent meeting today, October 21, 1997, in Cotabato City in connection with recent developments in Barira, Buldon, Matanog and adjacent areas brought about by incidents which may adversely affect the ongoing peace negotiations.

[...] Both Chairmen likewise agreed to refer the incident involving the attack at Camp Siongco, Awan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Octoer 14, 1997 to the Independent Fact-Finding Committee chaired by Fr. Eliseo Mercado, for inquiry.

[...] The Committee Chairmen also took the opportunity to express their continuing adherence to the spirit and intent of the provisions of the General Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by the GRP and MILF in Cagayan de Oro City on July 18, 1997. Furthermore, they agreed to continue the talks as previously scheduled on November 12 and 13, 1997 in Marawi City.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: [...] The GRP and MILF Committees are closely monitoring the situation in the area with the view to easing the tension thereat specially in Maguindanao and its adjacent provinces. The GRP Panel has assured the MILF of the repositioning of the AFP forces, to its October 16, 1997.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: [...] After the meeting, the GRP and the MILF Panels have noted the MILF assurance that there will be no death Execution before the November 12-13, 1997 GRP-MILF Peace Talks in Marawi City and the same issue shall be the subject of further discussion during the said talks.
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), p. 27.

GRP AND MILF JOINT PRESS RELEASE

MAJOR General JOSELIN B. NAZARENO AND ATTY.

LANANG ALI, CHAIRMEN OF THE GRP-MILF COORDINATING COMMITTEES ON THE GENERAL CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES HELD AN URGENT MEETING TODAY, OCTOBER 21, 1997, IN COTABATO CITY IN MONTANOG AND ADJACENT AREAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY INCIDENTS WHICH MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ONGOING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

AFTER THE MEETING, THE GRP AND THE MILF PANELS HAVE NOTED THE MILF ASSURANCE THAT THERE WILL BE NO DEATH EXECUTION BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 12-13, GRP-MILF PEACE TALKS IN MARAWI CITY AND THE SAME ISSUE SHALL BE THE SUBJECT OF THE FURTHER DISCUSSION DURING THE SAID TALKS.

BOTH CHAIRMEN LIKEWISE AGREED TO REFER THE INCIDENT INVOLVING THE ATTACK AT CAMP SIONGCO, AWANG, DATU ODIN SINSUAT, MAGUINDANAO ON OCTOBER 14, 1997 TO THE INDEPENDENT FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY FR.

ELISEO MERCADO, OMI FOR INQUIRY.

THE GRP AND MILF COMMITTEES ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION IN THE AREA WITH THE VIEW TO EASING THE TENSION THEREAT SPECIALLY IN MAGUINANAO AND ITS ADJACENT PROVINCES.

THE GRP PANEL HAS ASSURED THE MILF OF THE REPOSITIONING OF THE AFP FORCES TO ITS OCTOBER 16, 1990 POSITIONS.

THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR CONTINUING ADHERENCE TO THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL CESSATION OF THE HOSTILITIES AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE GRP AND MILD IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY ON JULY 18, 1997.

FURTHERMORE, THEY AGREED TO CONTINUE THE TALKS AS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED ON NOVEMBER 12 AND 13, 1997 IN MARAWI CITY.

SIGNED IN THE CITY OF COTABATO THIS 21ST DAY OF OCTOBER, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN.

FOR GRP:

MGEN JOSELIN B NAZARENO (GRP PANEL REPRESENTATIVE)

FOR THE MILF:

ATTY.

LANANG S. ALI (MILF PANEL REPRESENTATIVE)