Amendment to Certain Sections of E.O. No. 3 s. 2001 Re: Government Peace Negotiating Panels

August 3, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 555

AMENDING SECTIONS 5(c) AND 11 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 3, S-2001, DEFINING THE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE FOR GOVERNMENT'S COMPREHENSIVE PEACE EFFORTS

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 3, s-2001, was issued on 28 February 2001 defining the policy and administrative structure of the Government's Comprehensive Peace Efforts; HDIATS

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5(c), E.O. No. 3, s-2001, the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPNP-MILF) was established to conduct negotiations, dialogues, and face-to-face discussions with the MILF;

WHEREAS, there is a need to respond to emerging contingencies in the on-going peace talks with the MILF by way of enabling the GPNP-MILF to integrate all existing activities and endeavors relating to the peace negotiations, and wield direct and effective control over the joint mechanisms established under the GRP-MILF peace process such as the Joint Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH), the Local Monitoring Teams (LMTs), the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG);

WHEREAS, there is equal need for the GPNP-MILF to provide the necessary support and assistance to mechanisms and processes established under the Rehabilitation and Development aspects of the GRP-MILF peace process such as the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI);

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Section 5(c), E.O. No. 3, s-2001 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"c. GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATING PANELS. There shall be established Government Peace Negotiating Panels (GPNPs) for negotiations with different rebel groups, to be composed of a Chairperson and four (4) members who shall be appointed by the President as her official emissaries to conduct negotiations, dialogues, and face-to-face discussions with rebel groups.

The GPNPs shall each be provided technical support by a Panel Secretariat under the direct control and supervision of the respective Panel Chairman. They shall be authorized to hire consultants and to organize their own Technical Committees to assist in the technical requirements for the negotiations.

Furthermore, with respect specifically for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the GPNP shall have the authority to establish such bodies and structures, including finance and administrative support units, to attain its mandate.

Upon conclusion of a final peace agreement with any of the rebel groups, the concerned GPNP shall be dissolved. Its Panel Secretariat shall be retained in the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) for the purpose of providing support for the monitoring of the implementation of the peace agreement."

SECTION 2. Section 11, E.O. No. 3, s-2001 is hereby amended as follows:

"Section 11. Funding. The approved budget of the OPAPP, the National Program for Unification and Development Council and the National Peace Forum for the current year shall be the source of funds for the implementation of the comprehensive peace process for the year 2001. Appropriations for succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget of the OPAPP and other agencies concerned. ECDHIc

The funds to cover the Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the talks with MILF shall be sourced from the Office of the President and released directly to the GPNP-MILF Chairman. However, the funds to cover the Personnel Services (PS) of the GPNP-MILF and its Secretariat shall continue to be drawn from the approved PS budget of OPAPP."

SECTION 3. All executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed and modified accordingly. SCHIac

SECTION 4. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of August, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Six.