FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
ON
THE
COORDINATIVE MECHANISMS RELATIVE TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS WITHIN OR NEAR
CONFLICT
CONFLICT--AFFECTED AREAS IN MINDANAO VIS
VIS---VIS
THE GPH
GPH--MILF PEACE PROCESS
The tragic incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao has put
a spotlight on the nature and role of the coordinative
mechanisms under the GPH
GPH--MILF peace process in
relation to the conduct of law enforcement operations by
government forces within areas identified to be MILF
MILF-strongholds. These FAQs aim to clarify exactly how the
mechanism work.
What is coordination? What are the steps taken in coordination?

Coordination entails the notification of the necessary forces

on the ground of an impending law enforcement operation
(LEO) by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when the LEO will
cover areas or
communities with considerable MILF
members and/or supporters.
Does coordination require asking permission from the MILF?

No. The MILF is notified of the planned operation against

criminal elements at an appropriate time as determined by
the AFP/PNP in consultation with the GPH Ceasefire
Mechanism, namely the Ad
Ad--Hoc Joint Action Group
(AHJAG) and the Coordinating Committee on the
Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). The aim is to prevent
unnecessary armed
confrontations, displacement of
communities, loss of lives and damage to properties
without impeding the LEO.
When is coordination done?
Coordination is done at least 24 hours prior to the conduct
of the LEO by the PNP/AFP to allow sufficient time for the
evacuation of civilians and to avoid armed confrontation
between the Government and MILF forces.
The 24 hours may be cut short in hot pursuit operations.
When the subject of the LEO is a high value target, the
Government Panel communicates the name or names to
the MILF Panel.
How is coordination done?

How coordination is done depends on the specific

circumstances surrounding the LEO. The following
Operational Diagram
Diagram,, however, reflects the typical
information flow that happens to ensure that the
coordination mechanism works. This diagram is taken from
the Revised Joint AFP/PNP Operational Guidelines for the
AHJAG signed on 23 July 2013.

Who are in the CCCH and AHJAG?

High ranking Officials of the AFP are assigned to the

government CCCH. It is appointed by a CCCH
Secretariat made up of OPAPP personnel.

In November 2014, LEOs were conducted by the

Joint AFP and PNP against the BIFF and
Abdulbassit Usman of the JI in Barangay Libutan,
Mamasapano, Maguindanao. These operations,
which were coordinated through the ceasefire/
AHJAG mechanisms, led to the recovery of
sizeable IEDs ready for deployment and IED
components including high
high--powered firearms and
other war materiel, thus disrupting the bombing
and attacks planned by said groups and
individuals against civilian communities and
military targets in Central Mindanao.

Earlier this month, the elements of the PNP in

Maguindanao conducted hot pursuit operations
against members of the BIFF who were behind the
killing of a certain Cpl Valenzuela of the 6th Infantry
Division and wounding of personnel of the 33rd
Infantry Battalion. The operation resulted in the
devastation and seizing of the BIFF lair in the
vicinity of Shariff Saydona Mustapha in
Maguidanao and nearby towns in Cotabato.
Through discrete coordination facilitated by the
ceasefire mechanism, no untoward incident
occurred between the two parties.

The Governments AHJAG Core is composed of two

AFP and two PNP officers. It is assisted by a GPH
AHJAG Secretariat.
Thus, coordination between the police and the military
is done through the natural lines of communication
between and within the two agencies.
Why was the AHJAG mechanism initiated?

The negotiating Panels of the GPH and the MILF

recognize that the activities of criminal syndicates and
kidnap
kidnap--for
for--ransom groups, including so called lost
commands, impede the peace process, the effective
pursuit of development programs, and the efficient
delivery of basic services to the poor. Prior to the
establishment of the AHJAG, armed fighting between
the GPH and the MILF were triggered by the
operation of law enforcement units of the Government
running after criminals transit through or inside in
communities near and/or within MILF areas. Thus the
Panels created the AHJAG, to work in tandem with
the CCCH in
facilitating LEOs without jeopardizing
the ceasefire.
Have these mechanisms worked?

Yes. In several instances, the coordination through

the AHJAG and CCCH of both parties brought about
successful law enforcement operations by the
Government.

Between January and February of 2014, LEO

were
initiated by the PNP, 6th Infantry Division
of the AFP, and the Joint Task Force Central
against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters (BIFF) in Barangays Ganta Shariff
Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao. The MILF
pulled out from the area to pave the way for the
operations which resulted in the seizure of the
major camp of the BIFF, recovery of their facilities
used as headquarters, quarters, and training
sites, including banker and several armaments.
The foothold of the Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI) in this
BIFF camp was likewise dislodged.

All of the above successful operations, including the

release of numerous kidnap victims in Mindanao
(NAGDILAAB Foundation workers abducted by
members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan on
September 2008, a Korean
Korean--Chinese abducted by
unidentified gunmen in Kabacan, Cotabato on May
2009, Irish missionary Father Michael Sinnott who was
seized by LMG in Pagadian City on October 2009,
Angelina Soken Chew Mantigue kidnapped by BIFF
members in North Upi, Maguindanao on May 2011)
are the results of the successful LEOs of the PNP/AFP
with effective coordination and cooperation through the
ceasefire mechanisms of the Government and the
MILF.
The zero
zero--skirmish record between the Government
and the MILF within the years 2012
2012--2014, which was
only broken by the unfortunate incident in
Mamasapano, Maguindanao, contributed in no small
way to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement
on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
04 February 2015

OPERATIONAL DIAGRAM OF LEO FOR AHJAG

Hot Pursuits Opns

Cmdr Coordinates w/ AHJAG

GPH FORCES
(AFP/PNP)

GPH

Implementation of
SW, rescue of
Kidnap victim &
other LEO
1) Informs in writing
of an impending LEO

Cmdr informs AHJAG 24hrs

prior to opns

6) identifies
Operating
Units/AO

7) Communicates
info to
counterparts

n
tio

ac
w/

NO

ac
ti

on
N

4) Follows
Follows--up
for prompt
action

GPH
PNP/AFP
GPH AHJAG

8) Informs GPH &

MILF CCCH at least
24hrs prior to LEO
except on opn against
HPT

TEAM

MILF AHJAG

1) Receives &
documents
apprehended
personalities
for eventual
turnover

IN CASES OF THE ABOVE

GPH AHJAG

2) Conveys
Wanted List
through Letter

FORCES
Informs & refers if
conflict escalates

5) Receives
info & passes
on to
appropriate
agencies

3) Received
validated
Wanted List

1) Establish direct
linkage

COURT

FORCES

Headquarters
2) Turnover of document

3) Monitors operational
timelines & reminds
commanders of its
observance

2) Informs of an
ongoing armed
confrontation
between the GPH
& MILF forces to
resolve the
situation

GPH AHJAG
3) Prepares AHJAG Operations report

CCCH

Unresolved issues
be elevated to the
GPH
GPH--MILF Peace
Panel

Phase II ends
when GPH
forces operation
in the area is
terminated.

Phase 1 ends
when the
validation from
the MILF is
received & info
is passed on to
appropriate
agencies/units.

PHASE 1: BEFORE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIO

OPERATION
N

PHASE 2: DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIO

OPERATION
N

Phase III
ends when
AHJAG Team
has rendered
an official
report to the
AHJAG Core
Group

PHASE 3: AFTER LAW E

ENFORCEMENT
NFORCEMENT OPERATION

Prepared by: GPH CCCH/AHJAG Secretariat