On the Ceasefire in Southern Philippines
Letter of Instructions No. 513, issued on March 4, 1977, outlines the responsibilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Integrated Police Force in maintaining peace and order in the southern regions of the country during a ceasefire. The AFP is tasked with protecting residents in ceasefire areas, with support from civil government entities at both national and local levels. Individuals committing crimes in these areas, regardless of their affiliations with the Moro National Liberation Front or other groups, will be treated as ordinary criminals and prosecuted under standard criminal procedures. Violations of the ceasefire must be reported to relevant authorities, including the Ceasefire Committee and the Quadripartite Committee of the Islamic Conference.
March 4, 1977
LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 513
ON THE CEASEFIRE IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
| TO | : | The Secretary of National Defense |
| The Chief of Staff, AFP | ||
| The Chief of Constabulary | ||
| The Commander, Southern Command, AFP |
1. The maintenance of peace and order as well as the enforcement of the law is still the responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated Police Force throughout all provinces and cities of the Philippines. They will continue to protect all residents of the ceasefire area in their persons, property and liberty.
The civil government, both in the National and local level will cooperate in this task and extend to the AFP and the Integrated National Police all facilities and support.
2. Any person, whether or not claiming to be a member of the Moro National Liberation Front or any other armed rebel group, who commits any crime punishable by ordinary criminal laws like murder, ambuscade, armed attack, robbery, extortion, coercion, kidnapping, arson, etc., shall be presumed not to belong to such organization and shall be treated as any ordinary criminal; nor shall he be considered as entitled to special treatment as a part of the Moro National Liberation Front; such criminal shall be proceeded against in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure of the Armed Forces and the Integrated Police Force, with notice being given to the Moro National Liberation Front, if there should be any claim by anyone that such criminal belongs to such organization.
3. Reports should be submitted of any violation of the Ceasefire Agreement to the Ceasefire Committee, the Local and National governments and the members of the Quadripartite Committee of these Islamic Conference. cd