GRP-MILF Peace Negotiations

On January 7, 2009 a memorandum of Instruction from the President was released, “New Guidelines on the Conduct of Peace Talks with the MILF”.  The new guideline provides Government’s new policy on the Peace Process focusing not only on negotiating with the MILF but also on authentic dialogues with people in the communities.

New members were appointed by the President for the GRP Panel for Talks with the MILF effective January 15, 2009, namely,   Hon. Ronald Adamat,  Hon. Adelebert W. Antonino, and Hon. Tomas O. Cabili.  An Orientation and Mini-Workshop was conducted for the New GRP- Panel for Talks with the MILF held at Crowne Plaza Galleria, Pasig City.

Security.  The Joint GRP-MILF Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) conducted regular monthly meetings, conferences and dialogues to discuss concerns on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and to address reported ceasefire violations.

The Ad-Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) conducted series of dialogues/meetings with concerned counterparts (LGUs, LGAs, NGOs, AFP, PNP and other multi-sectoral groups) on the ancestral domain MOA, demobilization,  disarmament and rehabilitation (DDR)  and other OPAPP programs. They also conducted series of meetings with MILF counterparts on the primacy of the ongoing peace initiatives and the atrocities perpetrated by armed groups.

Rehabilitation and Development.  On the rehabilitation aspect, the GPNP Secretariat continued to provide support to capability-building initiatives of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA). In particular, the office facilitated the implementation of the “Study for Socio-Economic Reconstruction and Development of Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao (SERD-CAAM) in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the BDA.  The Study intends to come up with a strategic socio-economic development plan for said areas and is expected to lead to further development assistance.  Coordinative activities on the ground, through the GRP-CCCH, are being undertaken relative to intervention projects aimed at assisting IDPs and conflict-affected communities.

 GRP-CNN Peace Negotiations

Despite the continuing impasse in the talks, the Panel remains committed to the pursuit of the peace process with CNN through the conduct of parallel channels of engagement.  Relative to this, intensified human rights monitoring work were undertaken to advance the peace process as follows:

• Strengthened implementation of activities of the GRP Monitoring Committee:  complaints monitoring and review; coordinative work on the local monitoring bodies (LMBs); and education, information and networking on CARHRIHL.
• Continued monitoring work on GRP agencies' action on complaints that were endorsed to them.
• Presented to the PAPP results and recommendations of the fact-finding activities undertaken in six (6) areas namely, a)  San Fernando, Pampanga; b) Mabini, Bohol; c) Oriental Mindoro;  d) Sorsogon City, Sorsogon; e)) Roxas, Palawan; and f) Oroquieta, Mizamis Occidental.
• Continued conduct of networking activities with peace, human rights and academic institutions for the integration of CARHRIHL trainings in their HR advocacy work were done in January 2009.

Sustained Support to Community-Based Peace Initiatives

• Continued coordination with local agencies/sectors to monitor the status of their respective commitments to address the issues/concerns of the members of the Minoro Isabel Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (MIARBA), on delays in the issuance of CLOAs to qualified farmer beneficiaries and infrastructure projects critical to improving their productivity (i.e. farm to market roads and electrification of the area).
• Continued coordination with concerned IAC members on Bondoc Peninsula and Masbate concerns to monitor status of issues/concerns of the affected farmers and their immediate families in said areas.

Sustained Linkaging with Peace Stakeholders

• Conducted meeting with Ambassador Torstein Risa of the Royal Norwegian regarding the status of the GRP-NDF peace negotiations.
• Participated in the Lecture Forum on the Northern Ireland Peace Process which was convened by OPAPP in partnership with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.  The resource persons were Messrs. Jonathan Powell and Gerry Kelly who shared their respective experiences and insights on the Northern Ireland peace negotiations particularly the “Good Friday Agreement of 1998.”
• Conducted coordination meeting with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) on preparatory activities  relative to the arrival of Prof. Johan Galtung  who was invited by PCEC in coordination with the Asian Institute of Management to give a lecture forum in the Philippines entitled “Conversations on Peace.”  

• Conducted weekly Panel meetings to discuss issues/concerns and developments on the peace process with the CNN.