EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 3
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 3 - DEFINING
POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE: FOR GOVERNMENT’S COMPREHENSIVE
PEACE EFFORTS
WHEREAS,
a primary objective of the government is the attainment of a just,
comprehensive and enduring peace under the rule of law and in
accordance with constitutional processes, which is the basic foundation
for sustainable economic and human development and national prosperity;
WHEREAS, a just comprehensive and enduring peace requires not merely
the end of internal armed conflicts, but just as importantly the
resolution of root causes of the armed conflicts and social unrest,
transformation of Philippine society to one characterized by justice,
equity, tolerance, harmonious pluralism, and full respect for human
rights;
WHEREAS, the nationwide public consultations of the National
Unification Commission recommended a comprehensive, integrated and
holistic peace process comprising “Three Principles and Six Paths to
Peace” as necessary for the attainment of a just and enduring peace;
WHEREAS, this comprehensive, integrated and holistic peace process was
adopted as government policy under Executive Order No. 125, s. 1993,
which created the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process;
WHEREAS, there is a desire to reaffirm the government’s continuing
commitment to this comprehensive peace process and to consolidate its
gains;
WHEREAS, in line with the Administration’s policy to reconstruct the
peace process, there is a need to strengthen and streamline processes
and rationalize structure towards an effective and integrated approach
to the pursuit of peace, responsive to the changing situation of
country in the country and lessons learned from the past implementation;
WHEREAS, there is a need to further enhance the contribution of civil
society to the comprehensive peace process by institutionalizing the
people’s participation:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic
of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do
hereby order:
Section 1. Scope. — The government’s policy framework
for peace, including the systematic approach and the administrative
structure for carrying out the comprehensive peace process, shall be
governed by this Executive Order.
Sec. 2. The Systematic Approach to Peace. — The
government shall continue to pursue a comprehensive, integrated and
holistic approach to peace that is guided by the principles and
processes laid down in this Executive Order. These shall provide the
framework for the implementation, coordination, monitoring and
integration of all government peace initiatives, and guide its
partnership with civil society in the pursuit of a just and enduring,
peace.
Sec. 3. The Three Principles of the Comprehensive
Peace Process. — The comprehensive peace process shall continue to 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 the 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 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
to the internal armed conflicts, with neither blame nor surrender, but
with dignity for all concerned.
Sec. 4. The Six Paths to Peace. — The components
of the comprehensive peace process comprise the processes known as the
“Paths to Peace”. These component processes are interrelated and not
mutually exclusive, and must therefore be pursued simultaneously in a
coordinated and integrated fashion. They shall include, but may not be
limited to, the following:
a.
PURSUIT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS. This component
involves 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 includes
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. It also involves the
effective implementation of peace agreements.
d. PROGRAMS
FOR RECONCILIATION, REINTEGRATION INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY AND
REHABILITATION. This component includes 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 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 includes
peace advocacy and peace education programs, and the implementation of
various confidence-building measures.
Sec. 5. Administrative Structure. — The
administrative Structure for carrying out the comprehensive peace
process shall be as follows:
a.
THE PRESIDENCY. The President shall exercise active and focused
leadership that is essential for the effective 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. The PAPP shall be
appointed by the President and shall have the rank and remuneration of
a Cabinet Member. He shall have the authority to coordinate and
integrate, in behalf of the president, all existing peace efforts. As
such, the PAPP shall have direct supervision and control over the
specific structures and programs designed for the implementations of
the comprehensive peace process. He shall have the following functions
and responsibilities:
1)
Advise and assist the President in the management, direction and
supervision of the comprehensive peace process;
2) Recommend
to the President policies, programs and actions to implement the
comprehensive peace process;
3) Report to
the President on the progress of implementation of the comprehensive
peace process;
4) Supervise
the government agencies and instrumentalities to include their program
and activities, purposely created for the implementation of various
components of the comprehensive peace process, such as the Government
Peace Negotiating Panels and the National Program for Unification and
Development;
5) Coordinate
with other government agencies involved in the implementation of the
comprehensive peace process, including the National Amnesty Commission
and the National Anti-Poverty Commission, as well as the various
departments and instrumentalities which should participate or provide
support to the overall effort;
6) Conduct
regular dialogues with the National Peace Forum and other peace
partners to seek relevant information, comments and recommendations as
well as to render appropriate and timely reports on the progress of the
comprehensive peace process.
7) Perform
such other functions as directed by the President.
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 Chairman 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. They shall report to the President, through the PAPP, on the
conduct and progress of their negotiations.
The GPNP’s shall each be
provided technical support by a Panel Secretariat under the direct
control and supervision of the respective Panel Chairmen. They shall be
authorized to hire consultants and to organize their own Technical
Committees to assist, in the technical requirements for the
negotiations.
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.
d. PANEL OF
ADVISERS. There shall be a Panel of Advisers for each of the GPNPs,
composed of representatives from the Senate, House of Representatives,
members of the Cabinet and representatives of civil society and other
advisers as may be designated by the President upon recommendation of
the PAPP, which shall function as an advisory body to their respective
GPNPs on the conduct of their negotiations.
Sec. 6. National Program for Unification and
Development Council. — The National Program For Unification and
Development Council (NPUDC) shall be charged with the implementation of
programs for the reconciliation and reintegration into mainstream
society of former rebels, through area-based projects and activities to
address their economic, social and psychological rehabilitation needs.
Sec. 7. The National Amnesty Commission. — The
National Amnesty Commission (NAC) shall take charge of the government’s
amnesty program to address the legal status and security of former
combatants. The PAPP shall be in active coordination with the NAC in
ensuring the appropriate response of government to the needs of former
combatants.
Sec. 8. The National Peace Forum. — To crystallize
the partnership between the government and civil society in the pursuit
of a just and enduring peace, there shall be a National Peace Forum
(NPF) which shall function as an advisory body to the PAPP. It shall be
the principal forum for the PAPP to consult with and seek advise from
the peace advocates, peace partners and concerned sectors of society on
both national and local levels, on the implementation of the
comprehensive peace process, as well as for government civil society
dialogue and consensus-building on peace agenda and initiatives.
Sec. 9. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process. — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process (OPAPP) shall provide technical and administrative
support to the PAPP in the discharge of his functions for the
coordination and implementation of all components of the comprehensive
peace process.
The secretariat of the National Peace Forum (NPF ) established under EO
115, s. 1999 shall be integrated into and function as a component unit
of the OPAPP.
Administrative support services for the GPNPs shall be provided by the
OPAPP.
Sec. 10. 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. 11. Funding. — The approved budgets 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.
Sec. 12. 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. 13. Effectivity. —This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE in the City Of Manila,
this 28, of February in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand One.
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Since 19.07.98.