Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities

• Country/entity

  Philippines
  Mindanao
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities
• Date

  14 Nov 1997
• 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

  MGen. Joselin B. Nazareno, AFP, GRP Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Chairman;
  Atty. Omar B. Umpar, MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Acting Chairman and MILF Legal Counsel
• Third parties

  Witnesses for GRP:
  C/Supt. Franco M. Calida, PNP, GRP SCCH Member;
  Capt. Rolando T. Garcia, PNP, GRP SCCH Member;
  Col. Manual B. Ibanez Jr., AFP, GRP SCCH Member;
  Col. Jose G. Corales, AFP, GRP SCCH Member;
  Lt. Col. Rudy So, AFP, GRP SCCH Member;
  MGen. Oswaldo Villanueva (Ret.), GRP-SPAG Executive Director;
  
  Witnesses for MILF:
  Saipoden Tomawis, MILF SCCH Member;
  Badawi Hashim, MILF SCCH Member;
  Usman Mangkabong, MILF SCCH Member;
  Jaapa J. Ujajan, MILF SCCH Member;
  Elias Macarandas, MILF SCCH Member;
  Abdulmanaf Mantawil, MILF Secretariat Chairman;
  
  Attested by:
  Lt. Gen. Orlando V. Soriano (Ret.), GRP Panel Chairman;
  Aleem Abdulazis Mimbantas, MILF Panel Chairman
• Description

  Listed prohibited hostile and provocative acts, and actions exempted from cessation of hostilities. Also outlined ground rules and provided for observation of cessation of hostilities and conduct of inquiry by the GRP-MILF Coordination Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (CCHC) and action to be taken by the GRP and MILF if their forces violate the guidelines and ground rules. Other provisions dealt with security of the GRP and MILF Panels and CCCH members and relationships between the CCCH and the GRP and MILF forces.

• Agreement document

  PH_971114_Implementing Operational Guidelines of GRP-MILF Agreement.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 ALLAH THE MOST BENEFICENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL

IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES OF THE GRP-MILF AGREEMENT ON THE GENERAL CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

ARTICLE I

DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. GRP Forces - as referred to in the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities signed in Cagayan de Oro City on July 18, 1997.

2. MILF Forces - as referred to in the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities signed in Cagayan de Oro City on July 18, 1997.

3. The following are considered prohibited hostile acts:

a. Terroristic acts such as kidnapping, hijacking, piracy, sabotage, arson, bombings, grenade throwing, robberies, liquidations/assassinations, unjustified arrest, torture, unreasonable search and seizure, summary execution, as well as burning of houses, places of worship and educational institutions, destruction of properties, and abuse of civilians.

b. Aggressive action such as attacks, raids, ambuscades, landminings, and offensive military actions such as shelling, reconnoitering, and unjustified massing of troops.

c. Establishment of checkpoints except those necessary for the GRP's enforcement and maintenance of peace and order, and, for the defense and security of the MILF in their identified areas, as jointly determined by the GRP and MILF.

4. The following are considered prohibited provocative acts:

a. Display of MILF flag in non-identified MILF areas.

b. Providing sanctuary of assistance to criminal or lawless elements.

c. Massive deployment and/or movement of GRP and MILF forces which are not normal administrative functions and activities.

Id. Public pronouncements

IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES and GROUND RULES

d. Public pronouncements that will tend to undermine the sincerity or Credibility of either party in implementing the cessation of hostilities.

e. Other acts that endanger the safety and security of the people and their properties, and/or that which Contribute to the deterioration of peace and order, such as blatant display of firearms.

ARTICLE II

ACTIONS EXEMPTED

FROM CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

Police and military actions and administrative/logistic activities shall continue to be undertaken by the GRP throughout Mindanao and the entire Country.

In the pursuit thereof, confrontational situations between the GRP and MILF forces shall be avoided by prior coordination with the latter.

These actions include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Peacekeeping and police actions such as preventive patrols, investigations, arrest, searches and seizures undertaken by the Government against criminality, especially against piracy, robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling, murder and other Criminal acts.

2. Defensive or protective actions of the GRP and MILF to ensure the security of its forces, facilities, installations, equipment and lines of Communications, and the safety and tranquillity of the civil government and the population.

ARTICLE III

GROUND RULES

s

1. The GRP and MILF shall desist from committing any prohibited hostile and provocative acts, as described in this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

2. Movement of MILF forces outside their identified areas, as jointly determined by the GRP and MILF CCCH, shall be coordinated by Concerned MILF commanders to the GRP forces' commanders for clearance prior to said movements.

3. Forces not identified by the GRP and MILF CCCH shall be - deemed not covered by this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

4. Observation of cessation of hostilities and conduct of inquiry by the GRP-MILF Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL

GUIDELINES and GROUND RULES

a. The CCCH shall-promptly, motu proprio or as directed by the GRP-MILF Peace Panels, conduct inquiry on alleged violations of cessation of hostilities pursuant to this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

b. The CCCH shall inform immediately the commanders of GRP and MILF forces whose units or members are alleged to be violating this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

It shall be the responsibility of the GRP and MILF to take immediate and necessary actions to stop any violation and punish respective forces who violate this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

C. The CCCH report of inquiry shall be submitted directly to the GRP-MILF Peace Panels, with copies furnished to the GRP and MILF Commanders concerned.

d. The CCCH will coordinate its visits, inspections, and inquiries with GRP and MILF officials concerned.

The CCCH shall be provided information, data or evidence needed for their conduct of inquiry.

5. Disposition of violations of cessation of hostilities.

The GRP and the MILF will take appropriate actions on their respective forces who violate this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

6. Security of the GRP and MILF Panels and CCCH Members

a. The GRP and the MILF shall be responsible for the security of the Members of the CCCH especially in the performance of the latter's functions.

Members of the GRP and MILF Panels and CCCH, however, will be allowed to have armed security.

The number of security personnel and firearms shall be mutually agreed upon.

b. Authority to carry firearms by the armed security shall be issued by the GRP and the MILF Commanders on the ground to be confirmed by the GRP-MILF CCCH.

Area of coverage will be the area of effectivity as mentioned in Rule V of the implementing Administrative Guidelines of the GRP-MILF AGCH to include areas while in transit performing official duties as MILF Panel armed security.

IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL IV

GUIDELINES and GROUND RULES

ARTICLE IV

RELATIONSHIPS

1. Coordinating Committees on the General Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of the GRP and MILF forces.

. The GRP Members of the Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) shall coordinate directly or through the Chain of Command or authority of the GRP agencies concerned in matters pertaining to the implementation and enforcement of the Implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules of the GRP-MILF AGCH.

In like manner, the MILF Members of the CCCH shall coordinate with MILF units directly or through their own channels of Command.

Lateral coordination between/among the GRP-MILF CCCH members is encouraged.

2. Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities to GRP-MILF Peace Panels.

a. The Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities is an advisory body to the GRP-MILF Peace Panels on the matter of implementation of this implementing Guidelines and Ground Rules.

b. Unresolved matters within the Coordinating Committee.

On Cessation of Hostilities shall be elevated to the GRP-MILF Peace Panels for disposition.

SIGNED IN THE CITY OF MARAWI THIS 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1997.

For the GRP:

MEGEN JOSELIN B. NAZARENO, AFP (CHAIRMAN, GRP SUB-COMMITTEE ON CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

WITNESSES:

C.SUPT.

FRANCO M. CALIDA, PNP (MEMBER, GRP SCCH)

CAPT.

ROLANDO T. GARCIA, (PN MEMBER, GRP SCCH)

COL. MANUEL B. IBANEZ, JR., (

PA) MEMBER, GRP SCCH)

COL. JOSE G. CORALES,(PA MEMBER, GRP SCCH)

LT.COL.

RUDY SO, (PA MEMBER, GRP SCCH)

MEGEN.

OSWALDO VILLANUEVA (RET) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRP-SPAG)

ARRESTED BY:

LITGEN ORLANDO V SORIANO (RET) CHAIRMAN, GRP PANEL)

For the MILF:

ATTY.

OMAR B. UMPAR (MILF Legal Counsel and Acting Chairman, MILF Sub-Committee On Cessation Of HOStilities)

WITNESSES:

SAIPODEN TOMAWIS (MEMBER, MILF SCCH)

BADAWI HASHIM (MEMBER, MILF SCCH)

USMAN MANGKABONG (MEMBER, MILF SCCH)

JAAPAL J. UJAJAN (MEMBER, MILD SCCH

ELLIAS MACARANSA (MEMBER, MILF SCCH)

ABDULMANAF MANIAWIL (CHAIRMAN, MILF SECRETARIAT)

ARRESTED BY:

ALEEM ÁBDULAZIS MIMBANTAS (Chairman, MILF Panel)