Guidelines for Mutual Understanding between the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for Ceasefire -Related Functions During the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections

• Country/entity

  Philippines
  Mindanao
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Guidelines for Mutual Understanding between the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for Ceasefire -Related Functions During the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections
• Date

  7 May 2019
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Philippine Insurgencies (1968 - ) )
• Stage

  Ceasefire/related
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Philippines - Mindanao process
• Parties

  For the GPH CCCH: 
  BGEN CIRILO THOMAS P DONATO JR AFP  
  Chairman GPH-CCCH 
  
  For the MILF BCCH: 
  HON BUTCH P. MALANG  
  Chairman MILF-CCCH
• Third parties

  Witness and conformé: 
  MGEN DATO' YA COB BIN HJ SAMIRAN 
  Head of Mission, International Monitoring Team - M14
• Description

  Agreement to safeguard previous agreements and the GPH-MILF peace process in general during the election period of 07 May 2019 to 19 May 2019

• Agreement document

  PH_199597_Guidelines for Mutual Understanding between the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for Ceasefire Related Functions.pdf | Download PDF

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

In the Name of God, The Beneficent, The Merciful

GUIDELINES FOR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN THE COORDINATING COMMITTEES ON THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT

FOR CEASEFIRE RELATED FUNCTIONS DURING THE MAY 13, 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

References

1. COMELEC Resolution No.

10429, "IN THE MATTER OF THE PRESCRIBING THE CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES AND PERIODS OF CERTAIN PROHIBITED ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS".

2. COMELEC Resolution No.

10460, “GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR

THE ELECTORAL BOARDS (EB5) ON THE PROCESS OF VOTING COUNTING AND TRANSMISSION OF ELECTION RESULTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 13 MAY 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL

ELECTIONS".

3. COMELEC Resolution No.

10527, "GUIDELINES IMPLEMENTING SECTION 69 (B) OF COMELEC RESOLUTION NO.

10460 DATED DECEMBER 06, 2018, ENTITLED "GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR

THE ELECTORAL BOARD (EBs) ON THE PROCESS OF VOTING.

COUNTING AND TRANSMISSION OF ELECTION RESULTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE 13 MAY 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL

ELECTIONS."

4. Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) dated 27 March 2014.

5. Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) dated 15 October 2012.

6. GPH- MILF Agreement on Peace of June 22.

2001 and its Implementing Guidelines for the Security Aspect.

7. GPH - MILF Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities of July 18, 1997

8. Instructions from the respective principals of the GPH –CCCH and MILF CCCH anchored on the goodwill and confidence building of the GPH – MILF Peace Process with the participation of the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team (MT), as appropriate.

II. Purpose

To safeguard the GPH MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities, the Security Aspect of the GPH MILF Agreement on Peace of June 22.

2001;

GPH Declaration of Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) of 23 July 2009 and MILF's Memorandum of Suspension of Military

Action (SOMA) of 25 July 2009;

Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) dated 15 October 2012, Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) dated 27 March 2014 and the GPH MILF Peace Process, in general, from adverse effects and repercussions while the government ensures the conduct of honest, orderly and peaceful elections on May 13, 2019

III. Implementation Time - Frame

This endeavor shall be implemented during the critical period of the election from 07 May 2019 to 19 May 2019, as agreed upon by the GPH CCCH and MILF COCH with the concurrence of the IMT M-14

IV Mutual Understanding and Guidelines

1. The Government of the Republic of the Philippines - Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committees on the the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH CCCH MILF COCH) in cooperation with the International Monitoring team (IMT) Mindanao 14 shall undertake heightened special ceasefire-related functions in order to safeguard the GPA - MILF Ceasefire and peace process.

2. This undertaking is purely a GPH - MILF ceasefire and peace process- related function and not Philippine elections-related function.

Any activities undertaken during this period is not to be interpreted as MILF's inconsistency to its standing policy not to take part or meddle in whatever capacity in the government electoral processes.

3. During the stipulated timeframe of the National and Local Elections, the IMT M-14 involvement shall only be to monitor the implementation of the Agreement on Peace between the GPH and the MILF of 22 June 2001 and its Implementing Guidelines on the Security Aspect of 7 August 2001:

Implementing Guidelines on the Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Development Aspects of 7 May 2002 (Tripoli Agreement);

Agreement on theCivilian Protection Component (CPC) of the IMT of 27 October 2009;

the adherence of the GPH and the MILF to the SOMO and SOMA of 23 July 2009 and25 July 2009, respectively;

The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) of 15 October 2012;

and the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) of 27 March 2014.

This undertaking is to safeguard the GPH-MILF ceasefire and support the ongoing peace process inherent to the IMT mandate.

4. Hitherto, the GPH CCCH and MILF CCCH shall ensure and warrant, and the IMT shall coordinate and monitor the unhindered movements and deployment of election personnel, equipment / paraphernalia, documents, voters, AFP PNP election security personnel, as deputized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), to and from all the Polling Centers situated within the MILF dominated areas.

5. In case election paraphernalia are scheduled to be deployed, movement shall be done before the delivery of election paraphernalia to the COMELEC-designated areas in the province at least a week prior to the elections and distribution of these election paraphernalia to various polling precincts a day prior to the election (13 May 2019) until the completion of the Election and withdrawal of all paraphernalia, equipment.

6. It is mutually agreed that security/personnel deployed within areas with presence of MILF be withdrawn immediately after the conduct of elections and withdrawal of Election paraphernalia and personnel.

7. The strength of the deputized PNP / AFP election security personnel to be deployed in the MILF dominated areas shall be coordinated so as not to create unnecessary alarm and apprehension to the MILF forces and civilian communities that might jeopardize the ceasefire and the peace process.

8. The Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post (JCMPs) in Bray.

Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao;

Barko-Barko in the tri-boundary of Tulunan, Cotabato, DatuPaglas, Maguindanao and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat;

Brgy.

Nanagun, Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur;

Brgy.

Daliao.

Maasim, Sarangani;

Munai, Lanao del Norte;

and Brgy.

Linuan, Al-Barka, Basilan Province;

Brgy.

Sapakan, Rajah Buayan & Ampatuan, both of Maguindanao;

composed of personnel from the GPH CCCH, the MILF CCCH, the AFP and PNP with the IMT's assistance and the Local Monitoring Teams in Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Cotabato.

Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province, and South Cotabato, Maguindanao and Basilan;

and the IMT Team Site 1 in Cotabato City, IMT Team Site 2 in Illigan City;

IMT Team Site 3 in Zamboanga City and IMT Team Site 4 in General Santos City shall be designated as the monitoring and quick response team (QRT) of the JCCCH and IMT for this endeavor.

Additional JCMPs could be sot up in other areas, when necessary.

9. The main routes, water and land usually used by the MILF troops during movements and activities shall be left opened.

Provided, however, that MILF movements are properly coordinated earlier with the GPH CCCH and the existing ceasefire mechanisms.

10. The MILF shall refrain from consolidating its forces for any purpose/s including peace gatherings from the time the election paraphernalia are deployed until the Election has been completed except at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Camp Bushra in Lanao del Sur.

11. The MILF armed elements should not go near polling centers and precincts, avoid display of firearms and uniforms along routes leading to the areas where electoral activities are ongoing

12. The GPH CCCH shall provide the MILF CCCH and IMT the official list of Polling Centers which are of interest for the implementation of these guidelines.

13. In case of any reported untoward incident, the deputized PNP/AFP election security personnel shall take appropriate action in coordination with the GPH CCCH the MILF CCCH, the GPH AHJAG, the MILF AHJAG and the IMT M14 or vice versa as the case maybe.

14. The GPH CCCH and the MILF CCCH jointly shall find ways to provide assistance to the MILF members and families who are temporarily displaced as the guidelines are being implemented.

Moreover, the MILF through Its CCCH shall provide necessary data/information on the affected MILF members and families.

The Parties involved shall commit to these Guidelines of Mutual Understanding as agreed and signed on the 7 day of May 2019 at the Emerald Hall, EM Manor Hotel 9600, Cotabato City, Philippines.

For the GPH CCCH:

BGEN CIRILO THOMAS P DONATO JR AFP

Chairman GPH-CCCH

For the MILF BCCH:

HON BUTCH P. MALANG

Chairman MILF-CCCH

Witness and conformé:

MGEN DATO' YA COB BIN HJ SAMIRAN

Head of Mission, International Monitoring Team - M14