Frequently Asked Questions on the Completion of the Tripartite

Review Process of the GPH-MNLF Final Peace Agreement

1. Why is there a Tripartite Review Process?

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in a resolution adopted in 2006 called for
a high-level review that came to be called the Tripartite Review Process (TRP),
consisting of the OIC, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Philippine
Government (GPH) to evaluate the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement
(FPA).
The TRP was established to settle the contentions between the GPH and MNLF on the
implementation of Phase II of the FPA. Previously, the OIC had declared that the GPH
has fully complied with Phase I in its past resolutions.
The TRP commenced in November 2007 to identify obstacles that hampered the full
implementation of the FPA and to find modalities for their subsequent completion. Four
(4) high-level meetings where held until the TRP was declared completed in the fifth and
final meeting held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, last January 25-26, 2016.
2. What has been achieved by the TRP? What is the 42 consensus points that
the TRP has arrived at?
Over the course of eight years, the Parties were able to achieve the following under the
Tripartite Review Framework which concurrently serve as modalities for the
convergence of the FPA with the CAB-BBL:

Inclusion of the 42 consensus points (draft amendatory law to RA 9054 which

reorganized the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on the basis of the
FPA provisions) that are now reflected and enhanced in the Bangsamoro Basic
Law;
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During the initial meetings of the review process, the MNLF raised 43 issues
on RA 9054 that in their view were inconsistent with the 1996 FPA. Save for
the issue on strategic minerals, 42 of these issues had achieved consensus
between the MNLF and the GPH, hence, the term 42 consensus points.

MNLF partnership in ARMM Governance Reform and Development

Terms of Reference on the Establishment of

Monitoring Committee (TIMC)

a Tripartite Implementation

Terms of Reference on the Establishment of the Bangsamoro Development

Assistance Fund (BDAF)

Interim co-management arrangement on the control and supervision over the

exploration, development, utilization and/or processing of strategic minerals
between National Government and Regional Government addressing the
remaining issue on strategic minerals thereby addressing with finality all 43
issues raised by the MNLF.

3. What has been the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
particularly the Peace Committee on Southern Philippines (PCSP) in the TRP?
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in 1974, issued its Resolution 18 which
urged the Philippine Government to find a comprehensive and just political solution to
the Muslim Filipinos insurrection in Southern Philippines through negotiations. Through
OIC interventions, the Philippine government panel held meetings with the MNLF which
resulted in the signing of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, the consequent 1996 FPA and its
legal iteration, the RA 9054 that created the current ARMM.
Since 1974, the OIC has mediated the peaceful resolution of the Mindanao conflict upon
a mandate geared towards granting full political autonomy and right to selfdetermination the Muslim Filipinos. Its latter creation in 2007 of the Peace Committee
for Southern Philippines to shepherd the TRP manifests its commitment to continue its
mediatory role to the quest for peace and development in Southern Philippines.
4. What are the convergence points of the MNLF and MILF under the TRP
implementation roadmap?
The completion of the TRP and the subsequent implementation of the tripartite
agreements set up the convergence between the two Bangsamoro peace processes.
Consequently, the agreement to organize the Bangsamoro Development Assistance
Fund (BDAF) will bring further socio-economic development to Bangsamoro areas
covered by both peace processes. Meanwhile, the commencement of Tripartite
Implementation Monitoring Committee (TIMC) shall serve to ensure that the agreements
reached in the review process shall be implemented by all concerned, including the
concurrence to the OIC resolution on preserving the gains of all previous peace pacts
with the MNLF and the CAB with the MILF as the pivotal convergence modalities.
The modalities include the implementation of the agreement on the co-management of
strategic minerals to be referred to the Oversight Committee for continued devolution
process coincides with the agreement in the CAB on the joint exercise of power by the
Bangsamoro Government and the Central Government over the exploration,
development and utilization of fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, and coal) and
uranium in the Bangsamoro. This co-management of strategic minerals will be reflected
and further strengthened when it is legislated into the new autonomy law.

5. What effects will the non-passage of the BBL have on the implementation of
the convergence roadmap of the TRP?
Only the fundamental political concerns of the MNLF underlying the 42 consensus
points that are deemed integrated into the new autonomy law will be put on hold until
the new basic law shall have been legislated anew and subsequently passed.
However, the agreement on the establishment of the Bangsamoro Development
Assistance Fund and the Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee are ready to
be implemented by the Parties GPH, MNLF and the OIC during the interim (preBBL enactment) period.

6. How will the completion of the TRP support or boost the CAB and related
peace processes?
With the completion of the TRP and the incorporation of the MNLF agenda with the CAB
under a single framework, the CAB and correspondingly the BBL will now become the
inclusive framework for all Bangsamoro in addressing legitimate and validated
Bangsamoro demands related to political autonomy and right to self-determination.
It may be recalled that the MNLF was invited to join the Bangsamoro Transition
Commission (BTC) which drafted the BBL but declined as they had a review process
going on. With the TRP now completed and their vital role and participation assured and
upheld as stated in the communiqu, the MNLF can now actively participate in the
transition authority leading towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government
under the new autonomy law. With the MNLF onboard, the envisioned Bangsamoro
Government will be more formidable as some MNLF leaders have vital experience in
governing the autonomous region.

7. Is the Nur Misuari faction of the MNLF now supportive of the MNLF-MILF
convergence and its roadmap as enunciated under the Bangsamoro Coordination
Forum set down by the OIC? Does the convergence cover all MNLF and MILF
factions?
Yes. During the final 5th TRP Ministerial Level Meeting, the MNLF faction of Nur Misuari
was represented by Atty. Randolph Parcasio and Dr. Samsula Adju while the EC-15
(Sema Group) was represented by Muslimin Sema himself. When the MNLF affirmed
the convergence framework as articulated in the OIC Resolution which was part of the
Joint Communiqu of the 5th Tripartite Meeting, the MNLF including the Misuari Faction
definitely confirmed its support to the CAB as they have signed the Joint Communiqu.

8. When and how will the BDAF be incorporated?

The Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund (BDAF) will be operationalized as
soon as practicable upon the completion of the Terms of Reference (TOR) by the
Islamic Development Bank (IDB) with concurrence of the Government and the MNLF.

9. When and how will be the TIMC be organized?

As stipulated in its Terms of Reference, the Tripartite Implementation Monitoring
Committee (TIMC) shall be composed of three members each from the OIC, GPH and
the MNLF. Each of the three parties will submit the names of their respective
representatives to the TIMC, upon which the Committee is deemed to have been
formed.

10. Does the ARMM (or other government agencies) have a role in the TRP
implementation?
The ARMM will play a vital role in the implementation of the agreements of the
5th
Tripartite Review Process particularly on the consensus on the Co-Management of
Strategic Minerals. As member of the Oversight Committee, the Regional Governor of
the ARMM will be part of the discussion to continue the devolution process of this
specific agenda.
Further, the Terms of Reference of the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund
(BDAF) stipulates that the Fund Governing Board that will manage the fund will include
one representative from the ARMM Regional Government.

11. What will be the status of the FPA under the TRP implementation? Is it
considered absorbed/integrated in the BBL or CAB?
The 1996 Final Peace Agreement is the subject of the eight-year Tripartite Review
Process which is a mechanism organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) to identify obstacles and agree on the modalities to push for the implementation of
the FPA. The fifth Tripartite Review Process is the final meeting to be convened by the
OIC as the review process has already served its purpose and attained the objectives
set forth for its organization.
With the obstacles now identified and modalities drawn up and agreed upon, the Parties
shall embark on implementing these modalities to materialize the full implementation of
the 1996 FPA.

The CAB of the MILF peace process clearly builds upon previous agreements with the
retention of the powers of the current autonomous region produced by the 1996 FPA of
the MNLF peace process. Now with the convergence framework, the gains of the 1996
FPA on the implementation of 1976 Tripoli Agreement are preserved and the CAB are
fully implemented with the end goal of integrating the gains achieved in these peace
agreements in the Bangsamoro Basic Law or any new autonomy law.

12. How will the TRP implementation roadmap benefit Muslim Filipinos in
general?
The TRP completion specifically the implementation of the Bangsamoro Development
Assistance Fund (BDAF) will benefit the Muslim Filipinos as it is designed to provide
socio-economic projects in support of peace and development, poverty reduction,
moral, spiritual and cultural development of Muslim communities in Southern
Philippines. The Muslim Filipinos who migrated to other areas in the Philippines for lack
of economic opportunities due to conflict may decide to return and hence, benefit in the
socio-economic projects in their former communities that will be financed by the BDAF.

13. What is the stance/position of the MILF with regards to the completion and
implementation of the TRP?
In 2015 at Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao, the MILF signed a joint declaration with the
MNLF-Sema faction, emphasizing that the 1996 FPA must be fully implemented.
Further, they declared that the meeting of the Tripartite Review on the implementation
of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement on the linking and converging of the two peace
agreements to Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) must be pursued vigorously. They also
unified their voices in calling upon the Bangsamoro and the Filipino people to take the
side of justice and be united to strongly support the President of the Philippines and the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) towards finding final, just and lasting solution
to the Bangsamoro question.
Hence, the completion of the TRP and the implementation of the modalities that will
facilitate the full implementation of the 1996 FPA, satisfies the fraternal desire of the
MILF with the MNLF regarding the full implementation of the 1996 FPA.