Joint Communique

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Communique
Date: 23 Feb 2000
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: Lt. Gen. Edgardo E. Batenga, AFP (Ret.), GRP Peace Panel Chairman;
Dr. Emily M. Marohombsar, GRP Peace Panel Member;
Aleem Abdulaziz Mimbantas, MILF Peace Panel Chairman and Vice Chairman for Internal Affairs;
Mr. Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Peace Panel Member and Vice Chairman for Information
Third parties: Witnessed by:
Atty. Alberto A. Bernardo, GRP Technical Committee Member; BGen. Antonio Q. Romero (Ret.), GRP Panel Executive Director; Cpt. Vicente G. Batac, PA, DND Representative;
Atty. Alan L. Flores, MILF Technical Committee Member;
Mr. Eid Kabalu, MILF CCCH Chairman;
Mr. Rudy Radiamoda, MILF Peace Panel Adviser
Description: Joint Communique by the GRP and MILF Peace Panels informing on their commitment to implement the Ceasefire Agreement by strengthening the organizational capabilities of the CCCH, IFC, and QRT in order to ensure effective implementation of the cessation of hostilities. Additionally, both Parties recognize the aspiration of all the people in Mindanao, and reaffirm their commitment to the resumption of the second round of formal talks to take place on March 1-2, 2000.

Agreement document: PH_000223_Joint Communique.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: Page 1, Recognizing that there will be lasting peace in Mindanao when there is mutual trust, justice, freedom and tolerance for the identity, culture and aspirations of all the people in Mindanao, both parties have reaffirmed their sincerity to pursue peace to bring an end to the armed conflict in Mindanao. Further, both parties commit and resolutely continue the negotiation until a negotiated political settlement is reached.
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: Page 1, Recognizing that there will be lasting peace in Mindanao when there is mutual trust, justice, freedom and tolerance for the identity, culture and aspirations of all the people in Mindanao, both parties have reaffirmed their sincerity to pursue peace to bring an end to the armed conflict in Mindanao. Further, both parties commit and resolutely continue the negotiation until a negotiated political settlement is reached.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, Recognizing that there will be lasting peace in Mindanao when there is mutual trust, justice, freedom and tolerance for the identity, culture and aspirations of all the people in Mindanao, both parties have reaffirmed their sincerity to pursue peace to bring an end to the armed conflict in Mindanao. Further, both parties commit and resolutely continue the negotiation until a negotiated political settlement is reached.

Page 1, 1. Parties agree for the earnest cessation of hostilities in the following areas, namely: Carmen, Cotabato Province; Sharif Aguak, Datu Piang, Talayan, Kabuntalan and Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province; and, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat Province, effective February 28, 2000, six o'clock in the afternoon in accordance with the Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities of July 18, 1997;

Page 1, 2. Parties agree that their Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) shall earnestly oversee the smooth, sincere, effective and successful implementation of the cessation of hostilities.

Page 2, 3. Parties reiterate to strengthen the organizational capabilities of the CCCH, IFFC, and QRT for them to be effective in the tasks assigned by the Peace Panels.

Page 2, 4. That finally, parties agree to give meaning and impetus to the Agreement dated October 6, 1999.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 2, 4. That finally, parties agree to give meaning and impetus to the Agreement dated October 6, 1999.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 2, 4. That finally, parties agree to give meaning and impetus to the Agreement dated October 6, 1999.
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. 84-85.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE

THE CHAIRMEN OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP) AND THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF) PEACE NEGOTIATING PANELS MET ON FEBRUARY 22-23, 2000 IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY.

RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WILL BE LASTING PEACE IN MINDANAO WHEN THERE IS MUTUAL TRUST, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE FOR THE IDENTITY, CULTURE AND ASPIRATIONS OF All THE PEOPLES IN MINDANAO.

BOTH PARTIES HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR SINCERITY TO PURSUE PEACE TO BRING AN END TO THE ARMED CONFLICT IN MINDANAO.

FURTHER, BOTH PARTIES COMMIT TO COMMENCE TAlKS ON THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND RESOLUTELY CONTINUE

THE NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL A NEGOTIATED POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IS REACHED.

FURTHERMORE, THE GRP AND THE MILF REAFFIRM THE FOLLOWING COMMITMENTS TO PEACE:

1. PARTIES AGREE FOR THE EARNEST CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS, NAMELY:

CARMEN, COTABATO PROVINCE;

SHARIF AGUAK, DATU PIANG, TALAYAN, KABUNTALAN AND AMPATUAN, MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE, AND, ISULAN.

SULTAN KUDARAT PROVINCE, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28, 2000, SIX O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT ON GENERAL CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES OF JULY 19, 1997.

2. PARTIES AGREE THAT THEIR COORDINATING COMMITTEES ON THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES (CCCH) SHALL EARNESTLY

OVERSEE THE SMOOTH, SINCERE.

EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES;

3. PARTIES REITERATE TO STRENGHTHEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE CCCH, IFFC AND QRT FOR THEM TO BE

EFFECTIVE IN THE TASKS ASSIGNED BY THE PEACE PANELS;

4. PARTIES AGREE FOR THE RESUMPTION OF THE SECOND ROUND OF FORMAL PEACE TALKS ON MARCH 1 & 2, 2000 AT ESTOSAN

HOTEL, COTABATO CITY;

AND,

5. THAT FINALLY, PARTIES AGREE TO GIVE MEANING AND IMPETUS TO THE AGREEMENT DATED OCTOBER 6, 1999.

DONE THIS 23RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2000, IN THE CITY OF CAGAYAN, DE ORO, PHILIPPINES.

FOR THE GRP:

LT.

GEN.

EDGARDO E. BATENGA AFP (RET.),

CHAIRMAN, GRP PEACE PANEL;

DR.

EMILY M. MAROHOMBSAR, MEMBER, GRP PEACE PANEL

FOR THE MILF:

ALEEM ABDULAZIZ MIMBANTAS, VICE CHAIRMAN FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND CHAIRMAN, MILF PEACE PANEL

WITNESSES:

ATTY.

ALBERTO A. BERNARDO, MEMBER, GRP TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

ATTY.

ALAN L. FLORES, MEMBER, MILF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

BGEN.

ANTONIO Q. ROMERO (RET.),

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRP PANEL

MR. EID KABALU, CHAIRMAN, MILF CCCH

CPT. VICENTE G. BATAC PA, DND REPRESENTATIVE

MR. RUDY RADAMODA, ADVISER, MILF PEACE PANEL