Joint Agreement on the Ground Rules of the Formal Meetings between the GRP and NDFP Panels

• Country/entity

  Philippines
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Joint Agreement on the Ground Rules of the Formal Meetings between the GRP and NDFP Panels
• Date

  26 Feb 1995
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

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

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  Philippines-NDF process
• Parties

  GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES OF THE PHILIPPINES
  
  Howard Q. Dee, Chairman, GRP Panel for Peace Talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF Rep.
  
  Jose V. Yap, House of Representatives Member, GRP Panel
  
  Silvestre H. Bello III, Member, GRP Panel
  
  Feliciano V. Carino, Member, GRP Panel
  
  Zenaida H. Pawid, Member, GRP Panel
  
  National Democratic Front of the Philippines
  
  Luis Jalandoni, NDF Vice Chairperson for International Affairs & Head of NDF Delegation
  
  Fidel Agcaoil, NDF Consultant
  
  Asterio Palima, Member, NDF Delegation
  
  Coni Ledesma, Member, NDF Delegation
  
  Jojo Magdiwang
• Third parties

  Witnesses:
  
  Jesus G. Dureza
  
  Teresita L. De Castro
  
  Jose Maria Sison
  
  Romeo T. Capulong
• Description

  The joint agreement sets the Ground Rules of the Formal Meetings between the GRP and NDFP Panels Agreed, including governing principles, the conduct of panel negotiations, documentation, format of meetings, resource persons, media coverage, and general provisions for future negotiations.

• Agreement document

  PH_950226_Joint Agreement on Ground Rules.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

AGREEMENT ON THE GROUND RULES OF THE FORMAL MEETINGS BETWEEN THE GRP AND NDFP PANELS

This Agreement is being entered into by and between:

The Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, hereinafter referred to as the GRP Panel represented here by its Chairperson, Howard Q. Dee;

and

The Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, hereinafter referred to as the NDFP Panel, represented herein by its Chairperson, Luis G. Jalandoni.

Pursuant to due authority, the two Panels hereby agree:

ARTICLE I GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

Section 1.

In their deliberations during the formal talks and in the interpretation of this Agreement, the GRP and NDFP Negotiating Panels shall at all times conform to the letter and spirit of the Hague Joint Declaration of 1 September 1992, the pertinent provisions of the Breukelen Joint Statement of 14 June 1994, and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees of24 February 1995.

ARTICLE II CONDUCT OF PANEL NEGOTIATIONS

Section 1.

Venue and Schedule of Meetings.

The GRP and NDFP Panels shall hold their formal peace negotiations in the venue previously agreed upon under Section 6.

Article Ill of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

The two Panels shall mutually agree on the schedule of meetings.

There shall be reasonable time for both Panels to consult their principals before any meeting.

Section 2.

Subject Matter of the Meetings.

The specific agenda for a meeting shall be agreed upon by the Panels.

The Panels shall exchange detailed proposals and/or working papers on the issues for discussion within a reasonable period of time before the meeting in which such issues shall be discussed.

Section 3.

Quorum.

A majority of the composition of each Panel is required to be present at every meeting in order to constitute a quorum.

Section 4.

Presence of Persons Other than Panel Members.

The two Panel Chairpersons shall agree on the number of Advisers, Legal Counsels, Consultants, Secretariat staff, and security personnel, who may be present in the meeting room and in the vicinity.

Section 5.

Presiding Officers.

The two Panel Chairpersons shall act as co-presiding officers for the meetings of the two Panels.

Section 6.

Procedure of Formal Meetings.

a. The two Panel Chairpersons shall agree on the allocation of time for each agenda item.

b. Each Panel shall have equal time and opportunity to present its side in meetings.

c. Each Panel shall be given the opportunity to present fully, orally, and/or in writing, its position, to propound questions, and to respond to the other Panel regarding any agreed agenda item.

d. When no agreement has been reached on an agenda item within a reasonable period of time, such item may be deferred for further deliberation.

Thereafter, the two Panels shall proceed to the next agenda item.

Section 7.

Format of Meetings.

a. The Chairperson of each Panel shall speak on be of the Panel, but may designate Panel members, Advisers, Legal Counsels and Consultants to speak, when appropriate.

b. When it is the tum of one Panel to speak within its allotted time, the other Panel members permitted by him/her may interpellate or respond immediately to any point with the permission of the Chairperson of that Panel.

c. Each Panel may propose a draft on any agreed upon agenda item, which draft may become the basis for discussion and agreement.

ARTICLE III DOCUMENTATION

Section 1.

Use of Audio Documentation.

Audiotaping of sessions shall be allowed, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon.

Section 2.

Minutes.

Each Panel shall be entitled to two documentors who shall take the minutes for their respective Panels.

However, the two Panels may mutually adopt a common recording and documentation system and agree on an official record of the deliberations and minutes of the meetings.

Limitations on access to or release of such records and minutes shall be mutually agreed upon by the Chairperson, of the two Panels.

ARTICLE IV RESOURCE PERSONS

Section l. Each Panel may avail itself of experts as Consultants, who may or may not belong to its side, to assist the Panel.

ARTICLE V MEDIA COVERAGE

Section 1.

Media coverage or the absence of it at any meeting shall be mutually agreed upon by the two Panel Chairpersons.

Section 2.

The holding of joint press conferences or the issuance of joint press statements may, from time to time, be mutually agreed upon by the two Panel Chairpersons, taking into account the progress of the peace negotiations.

Section 3.

It is the inherent right of either Panel to hold separate press conferences or interviews and issue press statements as it may deem necessary or appropriate, taking into account the basic tenets of truth and fairness and the need to safeguard the on-going negotiations from being jeopardized.

The Panel Chairpersons may mutually agree on the confidentiality of sensitive issues under negotiations.

ARTICLE VI.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1.

Applicability.

The provisions of this agreement shall apply to the formal meetings of the two negotiating Panels.

All other meetings of the Panels related to the peace process shall be considered as part of the consultation process.

Section 2.

Amendments.

The two Panels may from time to time mutually agree to amend, modify or supplement this agreement as the circumstances may require.

Section 3.

Effectivity.

This agreement shall take effect upon the signing hereof by the Chairpersons of the two negotiating Panels.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunder signed this Agreement this 26th of February, 1995 at the town of Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NEGOTIATING PANEL

Howard Q. Dee, Chairperson, GRP Panel

FOR THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES NEGOTIATING PANEL:

Luis G. Jalandoni.

Chairperson, NDFP Panel