Joint Press Statement

• Country/entity

  Philippines
  Mindanao
  
• Region

  Asia and Pacific
  Asia and Pacific
  
• Agreement name

  Joint Press Statement
• Date

  15 Feb 2000
• 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

  Adg. Lenonida F. Brosas, GRP Technical Committee Acting Chairperson;
  Sheikh Moner M. Bajunaid, MILF Technical Committee Chairperson
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Joint Press Statement by the GRP and MILF Technical Committee, informing on the 20th Technical Committee Meeting on 14-15 of February, 2000, in which the GRP Panel requested limiting the discussion to substantive issues of the peace process and to find common ground on the issues, and the MILF Panel reiterated their commitment and sincerity to negotiations. During the meeting, the Committee agreed on Agenda Items for the Formal Peace Talks to six (6) points, created technical working groups, and elevated the MILF Proposed Draft on Immunity and Security and Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws to the GRP and MILF Peace Panel to discuss. Additionally, the Committee tasked the QRT, the CCCH, and the IFFC to investigate the incidents in Maguindanao,

• Agreement document

  PH_000215_Joint Press Statement.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

Joint Press Statement

The GRP and the MILF held its 20th Technical Committee Meeting on 14-15 February 2000 at the Estosan Garden Hotel, Cotabato City.

During the formal opening of the meeting, Lt.

Gen. Edgardo E. Batenga AFP (ReL), the newly appointed Chairman, GRP Panel for Peace Talks with the MILF, stated that his task is to negotiate for peace that will serve the best interest of and benefit the entire Filipino nation.

He requested the Technical Committees of both Panels to limit its discussions to substantive issues of the peace process and find common grounds acceptable to both the GRP and the MILF.

On the other hand, Mr. Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman, Committe on Information and Member, MILF Panel, representing Mr. Aleem Abdulazlz Mimbantes, MILF Panel Chairman, welcomed the appointment of Lt.

Gen. Batenga.

He emphasized the position of the MILF that in this era of globalization, the Bangsamoro problem can be resolved through dialogues.

Mr. Iqbal further reiterated the commitment and sincerity of the MILF in negotiating with the GRP.

During the two-day meeting, both the GRP and the MILF Technical Committees agreed on the following:

1. Tasked the Quick Response Team (QRT), the Independent Fact-Finding Committee (IFFC) and Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to look into the reported incidents Carmen, Cotabato and Shariff Aguak, Datu Piang, and Talayan, all in Maguindanao;

2. Clustered the Agenda Items of the Formal Peace Talks into six (6) aggruptions and the creation of technical working groups;

3. Elevated the MILF Proposed Drafts on Immunity and Security Guarantees (ISG) and Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws (CAR-HR-HL) to the GRP and the MILF Peace Panel for consideration and discussion and;

4. Proposed agenda for the 2nd Round of the GRP and MILF Formal Peace Talks on 21-22 February 2000 at a venue to be determined later by the Panel Chairpersons.

ADG. LENODIA F. BROSAS Acting Chairperson, GRP Technical Committee

SHEIKH MONER M. BAJUNAID Chairperson, MILF Technical Committee