EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 276 - FORMALIZING THE INTER-AGENCY SAFETY AND IMMUNITY GUARANTEES (SIG) COMMITTEE FOR THE GRP-NDF PEACE TALKS

WHEREAS, the Government and the national Democratic Front have recommended the conduct of formal peace negotiations between the two sides under the Hague Joint Declaration dated 1 September 1992;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 125 dated 15 September 1993 created the Government Panel to conduct peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP)/New People’s Army (NPA)/National Democratic Front (NDF);

WHEREAS, both Panels signed the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) on 24 February 1995 to facilitate the formal peace negotiations, to create a favorable atmosphere conductive to free discussion and free movement during the peace negotiations;

WHEREAS, the Government Panel and the Panel of the National Democratic Front had opened formal peace negotiations in Brussels, Belgium in June 1995 as contained in the joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG);

WHEREAS, the main objective of safety and immunity guarantees (SIG) was to safeguard and protect the rights of negotiators, consultant, staffers, security and other personnel participating in the formal negotiations;

WHEREAS, there is need for a permanent Inter-Agency Committee to provide a mechanism for coordination, joint decision making and problem-solving and monitoring of the JASIG implementation;

NOW, THEREFORE I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the creation of the Inter-Agency SIG Committee as a permanent committee.

Section 1. Composition. — The committee shall be chaired by the Executive Secretary with the following as members:

Secretary of National Defense (Vice-Chairman)

Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (Vice-Chairman)

Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Secretary of justice

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Director-General of the Philippines National Police

Chairman of the Government Panel for Peace Talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF

Sec. 2. Function. — The committee shall be tasked to oversee the implementation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and to resolve problems and issues arising form the same. The regular participation of all principals is required to ensure faster decision-making and communication of decisions to the filed.

To assist the Committee, a technical working group shall also be created to serve as its technical arm comprised of senior representatives of the agencies.

Sec. 3. Secretariat Support. — Secretariat support shall be provided by the GRP Panel for CPP/NPA/NDF Secretariat.

Sec. 4. Operational Support and Funding. — Operational Support and finding shall be provided by the GRP Panel for CPP/NPA/NDF.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. — This order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the city of Manila, this 19th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-five.
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Since 19.07.98.