Joint Press Statement

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity
Philippines
Mindanao
Region
Asia and Pacific
Asia and Pacific
Agreement name
Joint Press Statement
Date
2 Sep 1997
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Philippine Insurgencies (1968 - ) )
Stage
Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Philippines - Mindanao process
Parties
Maj. Gen. 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
-
Description
Joint Press Statement to inform on the meeting held by the GRP and MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities on September 2, 1997, in which the Sub-Committee recognized the need to encourage and hasten the return of evacuees, thus provided for repositioning of GRP forces and reassuring that MILF elements in the areas may return, so long as they do not establish military outposts nor display firearms.

Agreement document
PH_970902_Joint Press Statement.pdf | 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
Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Preamble, Page 1
[...] Recognizing the need to further give meaning and substance to the General Cessation of Hostilities by hastening the return of the evacuees in Pikit, North Cotabato and Pagalungan, Maguindanao, the GRP-MILF Sub-Committees on Cessation of Hostilities agreed on the following:
Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 1, 1. The GRP will gradually reposition its forces in Rajamuda and its environs to their original positions before June 16, 1997 and will continue to secure the Cotabato City -Davao City Highway to ensure the safety of travelers. The gradual repositioning of the GRP forces shall be completed within fifteen (15) days after the signing of this Agreement;

2. The GRP and MILF shall encourage the return of evacuees to their respective residences. MILF elements who are residents of the are shall be allowed to return to their homes immediately, however, they will not establish military outposts/positions nor display firearms.
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
No specific mention.
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
Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
The GRP and MILF Sub-Committee on Cessation of Hostilities convened at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City on September 2, 1997 to resume the peace negotiation pursuant to the Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities signed by the GRP and MILF Peace Panels on July 18, 1997 in Cagayan De Oro City.

Recognizing the need to further give meaning and substance to the General Cessation of Hostilities by hastening the return of the evacuees in Pikit, North Cotabato and Pagalungan, Maguindanao, the GRP-MILF Sub-Committees on Cessation of Hostilities agreed on the following:

1. The GRP will gradually reposition its forces in Rajamuda and its environs to their original positions before June 16, 1997 and will continue to secure the Cotabato City -Davao City Highway to ensure the safety of travelers. The gradual repositioning of the GRP forces shall be completed within fifteen (15) days after the signing of this Agreement;
Police
3. Law enforcement in the aforementioned areas shall be primarily undertaken by the GRP authorities, provided, however, that before the conduct thereof, prior coordination/consultation shall be made with the nearest MILF designated liaison in the area.
Armed forces
No specific mention.
DDR
Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
2. The GRP and MILF shall encourage the return of evacuees to their respective residences. MILF elements who are residents of the are shall be allowed to return to their homes immediately, however, they will not establish military outposts/positions nor display firearms.
Intelligence services
No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
2. The GRP and MILF shall encourage the return of evacuees to their respective residences. MILF elements who are residents of the are shall be allowed to return to their homes immediately, however, they will not establish military outposts/positions nor display firearms.
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
No specific mention.
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
GRP-MILF Peace Process: Compilation of Signed Agreements & other related Documents (1997-2010); (MILF Peace Panel/Asia Foundation, 2010), p. 20.

Joint Press Statement

The GRP and MILF sub-committee on cessation of Hostilities convened at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato city on September 2, 1997 to resume the peace negotiation pursuant to the agreement on the general cessation of hostilities signed by the GRP and MILF peace panels on July 18, 1997 in Cagayan De Oro City.

Recognising the need to further give meaning and substance to the general cessation of hostilities by hastening the return of the evacuees in Pikit, North Cotabato and Pagalungan, Maguindanao, The GRP-MILF sub-committees on cessation of Hostilities agreed on the following:

The GRP will gradually reposition its forces in Rajamunda and its environs to their original positions before June 16, 1997 and will continue to secure the Cotabato City.

Davao City highway to insure the safety of travellers.

The gradual repositioning of the GRP forces shall be completed within fifteen (15) days after the signing of this agreement:

The GRP and MILF shall encourage the return of evacuees to their respective residence.

MILF elements who are residents of the area shall be allowed to return to their homes immediately, however they will not establish military outposts/positions nor display firearms

Law enforcement in the aforementioned areas shall be primarily undertaken by the GRP authorities provided.

However, that before the conduct thereof, prior coordination/consultation shall be made with the nearest MILF designated liaison in the area.

This agreement shall take effect on the 4th day of September, 1997.

The details of the agreement which shall define the implementing ground rules were further discussed by both panels during the meeting.

The ground rules shall be finalised during the scheduled meeting on a later date.

Done on 02 September 1997 at Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.

For GRP:

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

For the MILF:

ATTY.

OMAR B. UMPAR (MILF LEGAL COUNSEL AND ACTING CHAIRMAN, MILF SUB-COMMITTEE ON CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES)