Joint Statement of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels

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Country/entity: Philippines
Mindanao
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Joint Statement of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels
Date: 10 Feb 2024
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties: SIGNED:

FOR THE GPH:

(sgd.)

CESAR B. YANO

Chair, GPH Peace Implementing Panel

FOR THE MILF:

(sgd.)

MOHAGHER M. IQBAL

Chair, MILF Peace Implementing Panel
Third parties: -
Description: In the Joint Statement, the GPH and MILF reiterate their commitment to the The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, reject the claims of corruption, and institute a process for amnesty for MILF members.

Agreement document: PH_240210_Joint Statement of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): PH_240210_Joint Statement of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels_legible (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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
To build on this momentum and in the spirit of partnership, the Parties reached consensus on the principles which shall govern the implementation of the socioeconomic development program for the decommissioned combatants (DCs) and the six (6) previously-acknowledged MILF camps.
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: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
To build on this momentum and in the spirit of partnership, the Parties reached consensus on the principles which shall govern the implementation of the socioeconomic development program for the decommissioned combatants (DCs) and the six (6) previously-acknowledged MILF camps.
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: Transitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon proper
Further, the Parties agreed that the verification of membership of MILF applicants for amnesty is a crucial step to ensure the sanctity of the application process.
To this end, the Parties agree that the MILF shall submit to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) the names of those authorized to issue the certification of membership;
institute a process of validation for the authenticity of said certification;
and device a system to identify those who are no longer active members of the MILF.
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: No specific mention.

Joint Statement of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels

The Peace Implementing Panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) successfully completed their 34th meeting on 10 February 2024 in Pasig City, with the Parties achieving substantial headways on pertinent components of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

To build on this momentum and in the spirit of partnership, the Parties reached consensus on the principles which shall govern the implementation of the socioeconomic development program for the decommissioned combatants (DCs) and the six (6) previously-acknowledged MILF camps.

The Parties deferred discussion on the revitalization of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), following the request of the GPH to conduct further due diligence and consultation with its principals.

Further, the Parties agreed that the verification of membership of MILF applicants for amnesty is a crucial step to ensure the sanctity of the application process.

To this end, the Parties agree that the MILF shall submit to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) the names of those authorized to issue the certification of membership;

institute a process of validation for the authenticity of said certification;

and device a system to identify those who are no longer active members of the MILF.

The Parties are also united in ensuring the integrity of the peace process.

Contrary to baseless allegations of corruption, especially in the decommissioning, the GPH and the MILF Peace Implementing Panels assure the public that proper mechanisms and procedures are in place to guarantee accountability, and trust and confidence in the process.

Informed by lessons of the past, best practices, and internationally accepted norms on processing combatants and weapons, the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) undertakes stringent verification and validation, among other established safeguards, before MILF combatants and weapons undergo decommissioning.

Programs under the normalization track, both nationally-funded and donor-assisted, are adequately accounted for by proper documentation and in compliance with rigorous monitoring processes to ensure transparency.

The Parties assure the esteemed members of the Philippine Congress and the general public that the implementation of various programs under normalization are conducted with utmost truthfulness.

The Parties express their deepest appreciation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for his unwavering support to the implementation of the peace agreement towards a just and lasting peace and inclusive development in the Bangsamoro.

The Parties likewise thank OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. and Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, under whose respective strong leaderships the implementation of the CAB has continued, as well as the different agencies of the National Government and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for their continuing commitment to the CAB.

The Parties finally thank the MILF-led Bangsamoro Government for its support in the implementation of the normalization program.

As the tenth-year anniversary of the signing of the CAB nears, both the GPH and the MILF re-affirm their resolve for the completion of the deliverables under the peace agreement through close collaboration, open dialogue, and a problem-solving approach.

Done this 10th day of February 2024 in Pasig City, Philippines.

SIGNED:

FOR THE GPH:

(sgd.)

CESAR B. YANO

Chair, GPH Peace Implementing Panel

FOR THE MILF:

(sgd.)

MOHAGHER M. IQBAL

Chair, MILF Peace Implementing Panel

Joint Statement of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Source agreement