FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE GPH-MILF CEASEFIRE MECHANISMS

What is the ceasefire agreement between the Government

of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF)?
On 18 July 1997, almost as soon as the negotiations
between the GPH and the MILF started, the parties signed
the Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities
(AGCH). This commitment to a general ceasefire was
necessitated by the dire effects to the ongoing peace talks
of eruptions of violence between the government and MILF
forces. Thus were created the parties respective
Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities
(CCCH) to monitor the parties compliance to the ceasefire
agreement.

What are the mechanisms for the maintenance of the

ceasefire?
The GPH-CCCH and the MILF-CCCH are tasked to
supervise the maintenance of ceasefire between the parties.
They conduct inquiries, prepare reports, and recommend
appropriate action on alleged and proven violations to the
ceasefire. They conduct visits and inspections in areas where
the ceasefire is in effect to ensure that no factor that would
contribute to the breaking of the ceasefire exists.
The work of the CCCHs is complemented by the Local
Monitoring Teams (LMTs) established in all conflict-affected
areas mutually determined by the GPH and the MILF. They
operate in designated provinces in Mindanao and are
composed of representatives from the local government unit,
civil society organizations, and the religious sector. They
conduct fact-finding missions for the CCCH and work
towards the immediate resolution of the crisis situation by
acting as first responder.

What constitutes a ceasefire violation?

The parties agreed upon a listing of hostile and provocative
acts that are prohibited to both government and MILF
forces. Prohibited hostile acts are terroristic acts1,
aggressive action2, and establishment of checkpoints except
those necessary for the Governments enforcement and
maintenance of peace and order, and for the defense and
security of the MILF in their identified areas, as jointly
determined by the GPH and the MILF. Prohibited
provocative acts, on the other hand, include the display of
the MILF flag in non-identified MILF areas, providing
sanctuary or assistance to criminal or lawless elements,
massive deployment and/or movement of GPH and MILF
forces which are not normal administrative functions and
activities, public pronouncements that will tend to undermine
the sincerity or credibility of either party in implementing the
cessation of hostilities, and other acts that endanger the
safety and security of the people and their properties; and/or
that which contribute to the deterioration of peace and
order, such as blatant display of firearms.
1

Acts such as kidnapping, hijacking, piracy, sabotage, arson, bombings,

grenade throwing, robberies, liquidations/assassinations, unjustified
arrest, torture, unreasonable search and seizure, summary execution,
as well as burning of houses, places of worship and educational
institutions, destruction of properties, and abuse of civilians.
2
Acts such as attacks, raids, ambuscades, landminings, and offensive
military actions such as shelling, reconnoitering, and unjustified
massing of troops.

How are ceasefire violations prevented?

To prevent armed skirmish, the parties committed to desist
from committing any of the above hostile and provocative
acts. Moreover, movement of MILF forces outside of their
identified areas are coordinated to the government forces
for clearance prior to the movement.

For specific areas where there is high probability of armed

conflict, Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Posts (JCMPs) are
established. JCMPs cover clusters of barangay within the
conflict-affected areas where units of the government and
MILF forces are assigned. JCMPs act as early warning
mechanisms and prevent the occurrence of conflict within
their areas of responsibility. In the event of any armed
confrontation, they are the first responders to the conflict.

How are police and military actions conducted in areas

covered by the ceasefire agreement?

A third party International Monitoring Team (IMT), composed

of representatives from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Norway,
and Japan, observes and monitors the ceasefire between the
two parties. It conducts field verification for reported
violations of the ceasefire agreement, and coordinates
closely with the CCCH of the Government and the MILF for
this purpose.

Police and military actions and administrative/logistic

activities are still undertaken by the government throughout
Mindanao. However, to avoid confrontational situations
between government and MILF forces, prior coordination is
done for peacekeeping and police actions (preventive
patrols, investigations, arrest, searches and seizures

against criminality, especially against piracy, robbery,

kidnapping, cattle rustling, murder, etc.) and defensive or
protective actions by both the government and MILF
forces to ensure the security of its forces, facilities, installations, equipment and lines of communications, and the
safety and tranquility of the civil government and the
populations.

What does the CCCH do when there is ongoing violation

of the ceasefire?
The GPH-CCCH and MILF-CCCH establish contacts
with leaders of the contending forces and assess the
ground situation. They negotiate for immediate
cessation of hostilities and work towards the separation
and withdrawal of the two armed forces involved in the
conflict. They also assist in the evacuation of the
civilians and displaced persons in the area. The CCCHs
assist both parties in the evacuation of the wounded and
the retrieval of their casualties.

What does the CCCH do after the violent incident?

The CCCH of the Government and the MILF conduct
investigation to establish what circumstances led to the
armed skirmish. They report their findings to the
negotiating panels. The GPH-CCCH and MILF-CCCH
also discuss possible measures to prevent the
occurrence of similar future altercations.
When violations are proven, the CCCH of either side files
a protest against their counterpart. The IMT mediates to
resolve the subject matter of the protest with a view to
preventing its similar occurrence in the future.

The GPH-CCCH likewise conducts troop visits, community

visits, and peace dialogue/advocacy, establishes early
warning systems, and coordinates with other stakeholders
to disseminate information on the ceasefire agreement with
a view to avoiding violations thereto.

Prepared by GPH CCCH/AHJAG Secretariat