EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 555, August 03, 2006
AMENDING SECTIONS 5(C) AND 11 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 3, S-2001, DEFINING THE POLICY AND AMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE FOR GOVERNMENT’S COMPREHENSIVE PEACE EFFORTS
WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 3, s-2001 was issued on 28 February 2001 defining the policy and administrative structure of the Government’s Comprehensive Peace Efforts;
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 5 (c), EO No. 3, s-2001, the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPNP-MILF) was established to conduct negotiations, dialogues, and face-to-face discussions with the MILF;
WHEREAS, there is a need to respond to emerging contingencies in the on-going peace talks with the MILF by way of enabling the GPNP-MILF to integrate all existing activities and endeavors relating to the peace negotiations, and wield direct and effective control over the joint mechanisms established under the GRP-MILF peace process such as the Joint Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH), the Local Monitoring Teams (LMTs), the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG);
WHEREAS, there is equal need for the GPNP-MILF to provide the necessary support and assistance to mechanisms and processes established under the rehabilitation and Development aspects of the GRP-MILF peace process such as the Bangsamoro Developments Agency (BDA) and the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI);
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
SECTION 1. Section 5 (c), EO No. 3, s-2001 is hereby amended to read as follows:
The GPNPs shall each be provided technical support by a Panel Secretariat under the direct control and supervision of the respective Panel Chairman. They shall be authorized to hire consultants and to organize their own Technical Committees to assist in the technical requirements for the negotiations.
Furthermore, with respect specifically for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the GPNP shall have the authority to establish such bodies and structures, including finance and administrative support units, to attain its mandate.
Sec 2. Section 11, EO No. 3, s-2001 is hereby amended as follows:
The funds to cover the Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the talks with MILF shall be sourced from the Office of the President and released directly to the GPNP-MILF Chairman. However, the funds to cover the Personnel Services (PS) of the GPNP-MILF and its Secretariat shall continue to be drawn from the approved PS budget of OPAPP.”
Sec 3. All executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.
Sec 4. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of August in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary