Rules and Procedures in the Determination and Verification of the Coverage of Cessation of Hostilities

• Country/entity

  Philippines
  Mindanao
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Rules and Procedures in the Determination and Verification of the Coverage of Cessation of Hostilities
• Date

  18 May 1999
• 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

  B. Gen. José I T Torrelavega, AFP, GRP CCCH Chairman;
  S. Supt. Jainal I Jamasali, PNP Member;
  Ltc. Ricardo B. Torrevillas, PA Member;
  Maj. Policarpio Zacarias, PA Member;
  Sultan Saifoden Tomawis, MILF CCCH Chairman;
  Badawi “Boy” Hashim, Member;
  Gerry Abubakar, Member;
  Atty. Guinaid S. Paduman, Member
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Agreed on general provisions for the identification and verification of MILF camps/positions including scheduling and the designation of an MILF Camp/Position Coordinator to initially identify camps/positions to be verified, to act as a guide of the verifying party, and to provide maps and demographic data. Prohibited ground movement of troops and surveillance devices or gadgets. Also outlined scope of verification, procedures for verification and post-verification activities. Joint CCCH to proceed with verification and identification of five camps as set forth in Joint Statement; verification of other camps/positions to be conducted upon agreement of the other parties.

• Agreement document

  PH_990518_Rules and Procedures for the Coverage of Cessation of Hostilities.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 Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

Rules and Procedures in the Determination and Verification of the Coverage of Cessation of Hostilities

Terms of Reference

1. Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities (AGCH) dated and signed on 18 July 1997 at Cagayan de Oro City.

2. Implementing Administrative Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities dated and signed on 12 September 1997 at Cotabato City.

3. General Framework of Agreement of Intent dated and signed on 27 August 1998 at Da’wah Center, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Magguindanao.

4. Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities dated and signed 14 November 1997 at Marawi City.

5. Joint GRP-MILF Acknowledgment dated and signed on 10 February 1999 at Da’wah Center, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

6. Agreement to Reaffirm the Pursuit of Peace dated and signed on 10 February 1999 at Da’wah Center, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

7. GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities Joint Statement dated and signed on 17 February 1999 at the Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.

Rule 1

General Provisions for the Identification and Verification of MILF Camps/Positions

Section 1:

Scheduling of Verification

Both parties shall mutually agree on the schedule as to when the GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities shall verify an MILF Camp/Position.

The Committee shall conduct the verification en banc, and shall schedule progressively and by priority the conduct of verification.

Section 2:

MILF Camp/Position Coordinator

There shall be an MILF Camp/Position Coordinator, to be designated by the MILF, shall initially identify the MILF Camp/Position to be verified;

act as the guide of the verifying party;

and provide the following, in coordination with the MILF Camp/Position Commander:

a. Location Maps of the MILF Camp/Position which shall substantially depict structural data and information including but not limited to conventional political subdivisions.

b. Demographic data of the MILF Camp/Position.

c. Other pertinent documents, information and/or data deemed necessary by the GRP-MILF CCCH for purposes of evaluation and assessment.

Section 3:

Identification of Personnel and Vehicles Involved in the Actual Conduct of Verifications

All persons actually involved in the conduct of verification shall wear identification cards and/or other similar markings agreed upon by both parties.

Vehicles used for the same activity shall likewise be marked for purposes of identification.

Section 4:

Ground Movements of Troops Prohibited

Except in the performance of the mandated tasks of the GRP forces, there shall be no movement of troops of both parties during or immediately after the actual conduct of verification of the MILF Camp/Position.

Section 5:

Surveillance Devices/Gadgets Prohibited

During the conduct of verification of MILF Camp/Position, no surveillance devices and/or gadgets shall be allowed within the Camp/Position perimeter, except those equipment necessary for the documentation of said activity.

Rule II

Scope of Verification

Verification shall include the identification of the geographical and quantitative delineation, demographic, agricultural, economic, cultural and other related data pertaining to the MILF Camp/Position verified such as structures, buildings, facilities, institutions, agricultural lands, marshes, rivers, creeks, and similar features and/or constructions that may be found within the verified MILF Camp/Position.

Rule III

Procedures for the Verification Proper

Section 1:

Briefing by MILF Camps/Positions Coordinator

After the GRP-MILF CCCH shall have entered the MILF Camp or Position, the MILF Camp/Position Coordinator, in the presence of the MILF Camp/Position Commander, shall brief the Committee on the salient features of the Camp/Position, the structures that may be found therein, their nature and purposes, and of the MILF armed components found in the same Camp/Position.

He may include other items of information he deems

necessary for the appreciation of the Committee.

Section 2:

Guided Tour

After the briefing, the MILF Camp/Position Coordinator shall guide the Committee in the conduct of inspections of the MILF Camp/Position.

Rule IV

Post-Verification Activities

Section 1:

Documentation

After the conduct of the verification, the Committee shall jointly prepare and sign a document formally, and where applicable, quantitatively, defining the verified MILF Camp/Position, embodying in the same document the results of the verification.

Heads of government agencies, local government officials, and other persons who may be agreed upon by the Committee, may be requested to act and sign as witnesses to said document.

Such document may be used for purposes deemed appropriate by the Committee in the furtherance of the peace process.

Section 2:

Joint Statements

The Committee may, in the interest of promoting peace and development, release a formal joint statement to the media for the purpose of informing the general public of the progress of this effort.

Section 3

A participatory process, which shall include the MILF, shall determine and prioritize special areas for development to be discussed by the formal GRP-MILF peace negotiating panels.

Rule V

Separability Clause

Section 1

The Joint CCCH, as mandated, shall proceed with the verification and identification of the five (5) MILF Camps/Positions as set forth in the Joint Statement signed on 17 February 1999 at NDU, Cotabato City.

Verification of other MILF Camps/Positions shall thereafter be conducted upon agreement of the other parties.

Section 2

The definition of the MILF Camps/Positions is hereby elevated to the GRP-MILF Technical Committee.

It shall be, however, one of the main tasks of the CCCH to act as an advisory body to the GRP-MILF Peace Panels as provided for in the same guidelines.

Adopted and signed this 18th day of May, 1999 at Estosan Hotel, Cotabato City.

For the GRP:

B. Gen. José I T Torrelavega, AFP

Chairman, GRP CCCH

S. Supt.

Jainal I Jamasali, PNP

Member

Ltc. Ricardo B. Torrevillas, PA

Member

Maj. Policarpio Zacarias, PA

Member

For the MILF:

Sultan Saifoden Tomawis

Chairman, MILF CCCH

Badawi “Boy” Hashim

Member

Gerry Abubakar

Member

Atty.

Guinaid S. Paduman

Member