Joint Statement by the GRP-MILF Technical Committee

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Statement by the GRP-MILF Technical Committee
Date: 18 Sep 1998
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: USec. Alma R. Evangelista, GRP Technical Committee Chairperson;
MGen. Santos B. Gabison Jr., GRP Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairperson;
Sheikh Moner Bejunaid, MILF Technical Committee Chairperson;
Atty. Lanang Ali, MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairperson
Third parties: -
Description: Joint Statement made by the Technical Committees, providing an overview of the 8th GRP-MILF Technical Committee meeting on 18/09/1998, in which the Committees discussed and agreed upon recommendations from the QRT relating to the situation in Upper Minabay, Buldon, Maguindanao, the repositioning of GRP forces, and administrative arrangements for the operationalization of the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities. Additionally, the Technical Committees discussed listings of MILF camps and agreed that a future meeting between the Sub-Committees on Cessation of Hostilities would further discuss the matter.

Agreement document: PH_980918_Joint Statement.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: [...] Following are the salient points discussed and agreed at the meeting:
2. Adherence to the February 6, 1998 Agreement to Sustain the Quest for Peace, specifically with reference to the repositioning of government forces pursuant to the five kilometers distance from Banganan River in Upper Minabay as provided in the said Agreement. The five kilometer distance shall be determined and recommended by the QRT within ten (10) days from today. The QRT shall report the compliance with the Agreement on the repositioning to the GRP-MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (SCCH) before its meeting on October 6, 1998. Likewise, the GRP will facilitate the movement of Cotabato Timber Company Incorporated (CTC) guards from Upper Minabay.
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
[...] Following are the salient points discussed and agreed at the meeting:
2. Adherence to the February 6, 1998 Agreement to Sustain the Quest for Peace, specifically with reference to the repositioning of government forces pursuant to the five kilometers distance from Banganan River in Upper Minabay as provided in the said Agreement. The five kilometer distance shall be determined and recommended by the QRT within ten (10) days from today. The QRT shall report the compliance with the Agreement on the repositioning to the GRP-MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (SCCH) before its meeting on October 6, 1998. Likewise, the GRP will facilitate the movement of Cotabato Timber Company Incorporated (CTC) guards from Upper Minabay.

[...] Following are the salient points discussed and agreed at the meeting:
3. Administrative arrangements for the operationalization of the Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities of both sides. At the meeting, the MILF Technical Committee submitted a listing of its major and other camps and agreed to provide the GRP with the parameters and criteria in determining the same. Pursuant to this, both sides agreed that their respective Sub-Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (SCCH) shall meet on October 6, 1998 for further discussion on the matter, at a venue to be determined later.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: [...] Following are the salient points discussed and agreed at the meeting:
2. Adherence to the February 6, 1998 Agreement to Sustain the Quest for Peace, specifically with reference to the repositioning of government forces pursuant to the five kilometers distance from Banganan River in Upper Minabay as provided in the said Agreement. The five kilometer distance shall be determined and recommended by the QRT within ten (10) days from today. The QRT shall report the compliance with the Agreement on the repositioning to the GRP-MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (SCCH) before its meeting on October 6, 1998. Likewise, the GRP will facilitate the movement of Cotabato Timber Company Incorporated (CTC) guards from Upper Minabay.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: [...] At the meeting, the MILF Technical Committee submitted a listing of its major and other camps and agreed to provide the GRP with the parameters and criteria in determining the same. Pursuant to this, both sides agreed that their respective Sub-Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (SCCH) shall meet on October 6, 1998 for further discussion on the matter, at a venue to be determined later.
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. 44.

Joint Statement

The 8th GRP-MILF technical committee meeting was held on September 17-18, 1998 at the Da’wah centre, crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.

Maguindanao.

Following are the salient points discussed and agreed at the meeting:

The recommendations of the quick response team (QRT) relative to its field investigation in upper Minabay, Buldon, Maguindanao.

Adherence to the February 6, 1998 agreement to sustain the quest for peace, specifically with reference to the repositioning of government forces pursuant to the five kilometres distance from Banganan River in upper Minabay as provided in the said agreement.

The five kilometre distance shall be determined and recommended by the QRT within ten (10) days from today.

The QRT shall report the compliance with the agreement on the repositioning to the GRP-MILF sub-committee on cessation of Hostilities (SCCH) before its meeting on October 6, 1998.

Likewise, the GRP will facilitate the movement of Cotabato timber company incorporated (CTCI) guards from upper Minabay.

Administrative arrangements for the operationalisation of the coordinating committees on cessation of hostilities of both sides.

At the meeting, the MILF technical committee submitted a listing of its major and other camps and agreed to provide the GRP with the parameters ad criteria in determining the same.

Pursuant to this, both sides agreed that their respective sub-committees on cessation of hostilities (SCCH) shall meet on October 6, 1998 for further discussion on the matter at a venue to be determined later.

These matters were taken in order to pave the way for smooth discussion of agenda items for the formal peace talks.

Both sides agreed to hold the next En Banc Technical Committee Meeting tentatively scheduled on October 22-23, 1998, at a venue to be determined later.

For the GRP:

USEC.

ALMA R. EVANGELISTA (Chairperson, GRP Technical Committee)

MGEN SANTOS B. GABISON JR. (

Chairperson, GRP Sub-committee on Cessation of Hostilities)

For the MILF:

SHEIKH MONER BAJUNAID (Chairperson, MILF Technical Committee)

ATTY.

LANANG ALI (Chairperson, MILF Sub-committee on Cessation of Hostilities)