EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 125
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 125 - DEFINING
THE APPROACH AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE FOR GOVERNMENT’S
COMPREHENSIVE PEACE EFFORTS
WHEREAS, a primary objective of
Government is the attainment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace
under the Rule of Law and in accordance with Constitution processes,
which is the basic foundation for economic development and national
prosperity;
WHEREAS, the National Unification Committee, by virtue of its mandate
under Executive Order No. 19, has submitted recommendations to the
President for the pursuit of a peace process envisioned to lead to a
just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the country;
WHEREAS, the term of the National Unification Commission ended on 31
July 1993; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive peace process demands a wholistic approach
that will require the cooperative efforts of all sectors of society.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby
order:
Section 1. Scope. — The Systematic approach for the
pursuit of peace, as well as the administrative structure for carrying
out the peace process, shall be governed by this Executive Order.
Sec. 2. Principles Underlying the Comprehensive
Peace Process. — The Comprehensive peace process shall be governed by
the following underlying principles:
(a)
A comprehensive peace process should be community-based, reflecting the
sentiments, values and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it
shall be defined not by government alone, nor by the different
contending groups only, but by all Filipinos as one community.
(b) A
comprehensive peace process aims to forge a new social compact for a
just, equitable, humane and pluralistic society. It seeks to establish
a genuinely pluralistic political society, where all individuals and
groups are free to engage in peaceful competition for predominance of
their political programs without fear, through the exercise of rights
and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, and where they may
compete for political power through an electoral system that is free,
fair and honest.
(c) A
comprehensive peace process seeks a principled and peaceful resolution
of the internal armed conflicts, with neither blame nor surrender, but
with dignity for all concerned.
Sec. 3. Components of the Comprehensive Peace
Process. — The comprehensive peace process shall henceforth include,
but shall not be limited to, the following components:
(a)
PURSUIT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS. This component shall
involve the vigorous implementation of various policies, reforms,
programs and projects aimed at addressing the root causes of internal
armed conflicts and social unrest. This may require administrative
action, new legislation, or even constitutional amendments.
(b)
CONSENSUS-BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE. This component shall
include continuing consultations on both national and local levels to
build consensus for a peace agenda and process, and the mobilization
and facilitation of people’s participation in the peace process.
(c) PEACEFUL,
NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT REBEL GROUPS. This component
involves the conduct of face-to-face negotiations to reach peaceful
settlement with the different rebel groups.
(d) PROGRAMS
FOR RECONCILIATION, REINTEGRATION INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY, AND
REHABILITATION. This component shall include programs to address the
legal status and security of former rebels, as well as community-based
assistance programs to address the economic, social and psychological
rehabilitation needs of former rebels, demobilized combatants, and
civilian victims of the internal armed conflicts.
(e) ADDRESSING
CONCERNS ARISING FROM THE CONTINUING ARMED HOSTILITIES. This component
involves the strict implementation of laws and policy guidelines, and
the institution of programs to ensure the protection of non-combatants
and reduce the impact of the armed conflict on communities found in
conflict areas.
(f) BUILDING
AND NURTURING A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO PEACE. This component shall
include peace advocacy and peace education programs, and the
implementation of various confidence-building measures.
Sec. 4. Administrative Structure. — The
administrative structure for carrying out the peace process shall be as
follows:
(a)
THE PRESIDENCY. The President shall provide the active leadership for
the pursuit of the comprehensive peace process.
(b)
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON THE PEACE PROCESS. The Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process (PAPP) shall be charged with the management and
supervision of the comprehensive peace process. He shall be appointed
by the President and shall have the rank and remuneration of a Cabinet
member. He shall perform he functions and discharge the duties and
responsibilities enumerated in Memorandum Order No. 163 dated 25 August
1993.
(c) NATIONAL
RECONCILIATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. The National Reconciliation and
Development Council (NRDC) shall perform the functions and
responsibilities relative to the implementation of the reconciliation
program for surfacing rebels.
(d) GOVERNMENT
PEACE NEGOTIATING PANELS. There shall be a Government Peace Negotiating
Panel (GPNP) for each of the three rebel groups, to be composed of a
Chairman and four (4) members who shall be appointed/designated by the
President as his official emissary to conduct negotiations, dialogues
and face-to-face discussions with rebel groups. They shall report
directly to the President on the conduct and progress of their
negotiations.
(e) PANEL OF
ADVISERS. There shall be a panel of advisers for each of the GPNPs,
composed of a member from the Senate, from the House of Representatives
and from the Cabinet to be designated by the President, which shall
function as an advisory body to their respective GPNPs on the conduct
of their negotiations leading to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace.
Sec. 5. Secretariat. — The PAPP shall be provided
with technical and administrative support by a Secretariat. The GPNPs
shall each be provided technical support by a Negotiating Secretariat
under the direct control and supervision of the respective Panel
Chairmen.
Administrative support services for the GPNPs shall be provided by the
PAPP Secretariat.
The PAPP and the GPNPs shall be authorized to organize their own
Technical Committee and to hire consultants.
Sec. 6. Funding. — The Office of the PAPP and the
GPNPs shall be funded with an initial budget to be taken from the
President’s Contingent Fund in an amount to be recommended by the
Department of Budget and Management and approved by the President.
Appropriations for succeeding years shall be incorporated in budget
proposals of the Office of the President.
Sec. 7. Agency Support. — The PAPP and the
Chairmen of each GPNP are authorized to call on all departments,
agencies of the government, including government-owned or controlled
corporations, to actively assist in the effective and efficient
implementation of the comprehensive peace process.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —
Subject to the approval of the Office of the President, the PAPP shall
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry
out the provisions of this Executive Order.
Sec. 9. Transition Mechanism. — Until such time
that the Secretariat for the peace process is fully organized and
operational, the NUC Secretariat created under Executive Order No. 19
(s. 1992) shall continue to provide staff support to the PAPP in the
implementation of the comprehensive peace process. It shall be under
the direct control and supervision of the PAPP. The NUC Secretariat is
authorized to continue receiving, disbursing and accounting for funds
released for the peace process. Until new funds as defined under
Sec. 6 of this Executive Order are released for the peace process,
the NUC Secretariat shall advance funding support from its own budget
for the operations of the PAPP and the GPNPs.
All assets, funds, records, equipment, facilities, other properties,
choses in action, as well as the personnel of the NUC Secretariat are
hereby transferred to the Secretariat of the PAPP.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. — All executive orders,
rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila,
this 15th day of September in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred
and Ninety-Three.
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Since 19.07.98.