MANILA, January 10, 2020 — The Filipino people have no need for the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Social Economic Reforms (CASER) whose passage is being aggressively pushed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP), according to Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. (more…)
The top local executives and civic leaders of the Cordilleras today ended their historic joint meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) with an appeal to both the Philippine government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to agree to a permanent ceasefire and enable the full development of their communities.
In a joint statement signed after the two-day conference held in Baguio City, officials and members of the Cordillera Administrative Region RDC and RPOC declared their “commitment of support to the call to end violence and to the attainment of permanent ceasefire” with communist guerrillas.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, chair of both the RDC and RPOC, explained that the attainment of just and lasting peace is a key foundation to realize inclusive growth and sustainable development in the Cordilleras.
We believe that this will be realized through continuing peace negotiation, sustainable socio-economic reforms, and recognizing our right to self-determination through an autonomous regional government,” Domogan pointed out.
Aside from Domogan, other top local officials who participated in the joint RDC-RPOC conference include Governors Cresencio Pacalso of Benguet, Pedro Mayam-o of Ifugao, and Bonifacio Lawasan, Jr. of Mt. Province.
Also in attendance were officials of national government agencies that include the NEDA, DILG, DAR, DPWH, DepEd, DOE, DOLE, DOST, TESDA, DSWD, DOT, NCIP, PMS, PIA, AFP and PNP as well as community leaders from the private sector and non-government organizations.
he historic conference was held upon the request of the government panel negotiating peace with the NDF as part of their nationwide consultation-workshops on proposed social and economic reforms being discussed with communist guerrillas.
The consultation-workshop, held at the Albergo Hotel, also sought to solicit inputs from the local officials and community leaders of the Cordilleras regarding concerns on the proposed joint ceasefire agreement with communist rebels.
“The series of workshops is part of the government panel’s nationwide consultations with relevant stakeholders to collect inputs, test the validity of its positioning and encourage buy-ins for the on-going peace negotiations,” explained former Agrarian Reform Sec. Hernani Braganza, the panel member supervising the discussions on the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) and joint ceasefire agreement.
The outputs of the consultation-workshop in the Cordilleras, according to Braganza, will be included as inputs to the fifth round of formal peace negotiation with the NDF scheduled in The Netherlands from May 27 to June 1, 2017.
One of the major inputs during the workshop was the Cordillerans’ declaration of support for a new agrarian reform program that will respect the Indigeneous People’s right to their ancestral domain.
The participants were also amenable to the other provisions of the draft Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) submitted by GRP to the NDF, provided the reforms will not be implemented in conflict with traditions and culture of the Indigenous Peoples of the Cordilleras.
The local executives and community leaders maintained that any ceasefire agreement with the NDF must contain provisions prohibiting extortion activities and attacks on the civilian populace by communist guerrillas including destruction of private property and abduction.
Braganza noted that aside from CASER and joint ceasefire, the GRP and NDF panels will also discuss their respective positions on the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms (PCR) on the next round of talks in The Netherlands.
“At the moment, discussions were being conducted extensively on CASER since forging an agreement on social and economic reforms is acknowledged by parties to be central to reaching unity and peace,” he explained.
“We will also focus on the joint ceasefire since forging a bilateral ceasefire is considered to be of parallel importance to provide an enabling environment for reforms to take place,” he added.
The government and the NDF had previously conducted four rounds of formal peace negotiations under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, achieving breakthroughs in CASER discussions, ceasefire agreement and implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHR-IHL).
For CASER, both panels had agreed to accelarate the discussion through formation of bilateral teams that meet regularly in Manila in between formal rounds of peace negotiation. The discussions intend to flesh out an agreement on free land distribution for a proposed agrarian reform program.
During the fourth round of peace talks, held in Noordwidjk Ann Zee in The Netherlands last March, both panels also agreed to sign a joint ceasefire agreement that will provide cessation of hostilities pending the signing of a final peace agreement. The terms of reference (TOR) of the joint ceasefire is now under discussion in Manila.
The third round of peace talks, held in Rome last January, produced an agreement providing supplementing guidelines for the operationalization of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the CARHR-IHL.
The CARHR-IHL was signed by the government and the NDF in 1998, but it was only under the term of President Duterte that it was made fully operational.
The agreement recognized the need to apply human rights principles when responding to the armed conflict. It obligated both parties to promote the respect of and adherence to international humanitarian law among its forces. It emphasized the urgency of protecting the civilian population.
Signing of a comprehensive agreement on social economic reforms triggers discussion on ceasefire, and eventually end of hostilities and disposition of forces.
BAGUIO CITY – “CASER is the trigger mechanism that would lead to the discussion of constitutional reforms and end of hostilities,” said Government peace panel member and former Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza after a two-day consultation-workshop on the government’s proposed social economic reforms and ceasefire here in the city. This is a first on the series of regional consultations on the said drafts to be conducted nationwide.
The consultation-workshop aims to generate valuable inputs, comments, and suggestions from key officials and leaders of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) on the draft social economic reforms and ceasefire. It also aims to gather support for the ongoing peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Braganza, who also supervises the discussions on the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) and joint ceasefire agreement explained that in order for the successful implementation of reforms, a security mechanism – ceasefire – has to be put in place.
“A ceasefire can provide a more conducive environment so that both Parties can talk freely and openly with minimal distractions. It also provides a breathing space especially in the conflict-affected areas. Ito ay may kinalaman sa delivery of support services and basic social services. Kung may ceasefire o may tigil putukan, local government, representatives of national agencies can freely move around. But more importantly, the civilians in the conflict areas can also conduct livelihood activities, businesses unhampered,” Braganza explained.
Braganza also emphasized that CASER is most important agenda being discussed in the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF).
“CASER ang pinakamahalaga na agenda sa usapin ng peace talks. Hindi lamang with the National Democratic Front but also with government because we are talking about reforms. When we talk about reforms, we’re trying to reform government…we are trying to come up with reforms on policy issues, on program issues, on specific project to implement that specific policy,” Braganza said.
The outcomes of the consultation-workshop produced by the representatives from Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) will be included as inputs to the fifth round of formal peace negotiation with the NDF scheduled in The Netherlands from 27 May to 1 June 2017.
Regional peace and order mechanism in absence of a unilateral ceasefire
Braganza reiterated that the GRP panel is also looking at the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) which can be adopted by both GRP and NDF parties as a security mechanism if a ceasefire is not yet in place. An enhanced RPOC can also include government agencies not focused on peace and order to deliver basic services.
“Hindi pwede na ‘yung national government will decide on issues on buffer zones and area of temporary state without direct consultations with local government, without the participation of the local government. We have chosen the RPOC as the mechanism because this is where all the agencies of government can meet… it can also be a measure where local government can be empowered including security forces to address the most immediate and basic needs of the people especially in the conflict-affected areas,” Braganza said.
RDC, RPOC joint statement of commitment for peace
Immediately after the two-day consultation-workshop, RDC and RPOC released a joint statement on their commitment to working towards the end of violence and the attainment of a permanent ceasefire.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who is also serving as the chair of RDC and RPOC combined said that the government is spending billions in addressing insurgency in the country instead of putting the money for the delivery of social services.
“We take note how much government is spending in addressing insurgency, aabot ng bilyon yan. If only this amount will be for socio-economic reforms, I am sure that the Philippine will not be as it is today,” Domogan said. ###
The Parties agree to conclude the unfinished distribution of land and do this for free for the landless and poor farmers, farm workers, and fisherfolk, with just compensation to owners. The immediate focus is the distribution of the remaining balance of the lands for distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL).
AGREED OUTCOMES FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC REFORMS. On October 6-10, 2016, the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front met for the second round of formal talks to agree on common frameworks for the final peace pact.
One of the substantive agenda that was tackled is the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER). Check out the list of agreed outcomes for CASER:
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