Powersharing Transitional Government: Mindanao Final Agreement

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Powersharing Transitional Government: Mindanao Final Agreement

Implementations

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1996

At least nine of the positions mentioned above were to be filled by appointment. These are special appointments that are to be made in addition to any other government positions that would be held by a Muslim resident from the ARMM under normal hiring practices.

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 1996. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1 Although Muslims may hold a number of positions in the government, they are not the positions listed in the accord and the candidates were not recommended by the ARMM.

  1. “Report of the OIC Secretary-General on the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines,” Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC/33-ICFM/2005/MM/SG/REP.2), 2006, accessed June 9, 2010, http://www.oic-oci.org/baku2006/english/SG-report/33ICFM-MM-SG-REP-ENG-P…

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1997

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 1997. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1998

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 1998. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 1999

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 1999. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 2000

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 2000. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 2001

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 2001. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 2002

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 2002. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 2003

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 2003. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 2004

No evidence could be found that any of the specific appointments referenced in the accord were made in 2004. The MNLF report (covering 1996 to 2005) to the verification body (OIC) explicitly states that none of the appointments were made.1

  1. Ibid.

Powersharing Transitional Government – 2005

The OIC General Secretariat, the third party verification body chosen in the 1996 peace agreement, received an official report by the GRP dated December 2005 which reported on the five chief articles of implementation by the GRP of Phase II of the Peace Agreement.

Regarding “Participation of Muslims in the Executive Council, the Legislative Assembly, the Administrative System, and Representation in National Government,” the GRP report mentioned that recent ARMM elections (18 August 2005) had resulted in the election of Dato Zaldi Uy Ampatuan as the new Regional Governor, 24 new members in the Legislative Assembly, and Hatimil Hassan, leader of the Legislative Assembly. It was also noted that several Muslims were elected to high-ranking positions (Nasser Pangandamam, Department of Agrarian Reform, Mr. Zamzamin Ampatuan, National Anti-Poverty Commission Chairman). The report also mentions two Muslim candidates elected to the Philippine House of Representatives and two Muslim magistrates in the Court of Appeals.

These appointments do not constitute evidence of GRP compliance with the 1996 agreement for several reasons. First, the appointments mentioned by the GRP official report resulted from elections. Second, the number of muslims holding high-ranking positions is not relevant. Third, the individuals mentioned in the GRP report do not hold the specific positions mentioned in the 1996 agreement. The GRP report does not mention any appointments made to the Executive Branch, Major Departments, Security Council, Board of Directors, Sectoral Representative, or the Supreme Court.

The failure to mention any of the specific positions from the 1996 accord in the report to the third party in charge of monitoring the implementation of the accord strongly suggests that no appointments were made. Calling attention to recent election results suggests that the government failed to make any appointment that could be referenced in their report, and this amounted to an attempt to report something rather than nothing. The MNLF report to the OIC explicitly states that no appointments were made based on the recommendations of the Regional Government pursuant to the 1996 agreement.1

Article 72 is different than the other articles and refers to a general outreach plan to recruit ARMM residents into the civil service. No formal programs of recruitment, affirmative action, training or outreach initiates by the Civil Service Commission of the Philippines intended to increase the number of ARMM residents in civil service could be found or verified. Within the National Civil Service Commission, we contacted the Office of Examination, the Office of Recruitment and Placement and the Office of Public Assistance (via email with attached letterhead) about any relevant programs targeted at ARMM residents. No information or knowledge was received on any specific outreach program aimed at ARMM residents.

  1. Ibid.