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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 1479 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
One of the stipulations in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies of 
the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The maintenance of peace and order, the 
protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare 
are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy." 
Given the century-old insurgency problem in this country, the government 
should strive to deliver peaceful, harmonious environment to every Filipinos that 
is free from all forms of threats and disturbances. The continuous pursuit of 
peace agreements between the major rebel groups and the government should 
be the primordial concern of every citizen in actively pursuing peace and stability 
in the country. 
In the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria 
Macapagal-Arroyo, it has been mentioned that one of the administration's thrust 
is to invest in programs to bring peace to Mindanao. The prevailing rage in 
Basilan and other parts of Mindanao caused major alarm and concerns as to the 
true status of peace negotiations and more importantly the over-all security 
policy not only in Mindanao but also in other parts of the country where the 
presence of extremist groups are prevalent. It is therefore imperative that we 
come up with a comprehensive peace policy that would address the current 
military, political, social and economic issues that have been identified as threats 
to peace and national security. 
This measure seeks to institutionalize a National Peace Policy that is 
governed by the following principles: 
A comprehensive community-based peace process reflecting the 
sentiments, values, and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it shall be 
defined not by government alone, nor by the different contending groups only, 
but by all Filipinos as one community. 
A comprehensive peace process that aims to forge a new compact 
for just, equitable, humane and pluralistic society. 
It seeks to establish a 
genuinely pluralistic society where all individuals and groups are free to engage 
in peaceful competition for predominance of their political programs without fear, 
through the exercise of rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, and 
a) 
b) 


where they may compete for political power through an electoral system that is 
free, fair and honest. 
This bill likewise provides for the creation of a Commission on Peace that 
will be tasked to assist the President in the active pursuit for a comprehensive 
peace process which will inculcate social, economic and political reforms, 
consensus-building and empowerment for peace and peaceful negotiated 
settlement with the different rebel groups. 
Moreover, 
programs for 
reconciliation, reintegration into mainstream society, rehabilitation, addressing 
concerns arising from the continuing armed hostilities, building and nurturing a 
climate conducive to peace are also introduced in this measure. 
In light of the foregoing, immediate enactment of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
B. HONASAN I1 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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S E N A T E  
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Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
AN ACT 
DECLARING A NATIONAL PEACE POLICY THEREBY CREATING A 
COMMISSION ON PEACE 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the "National 
Peace Policy Act of 2007". 
SEC. 2. Constitutional Policy on Peace - The national peace policy 
shall be pursued in the light of the following constitutional mandates: 
a) The sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the Almighty God, in 
order to build a just and humane society and establish a government that shall 
embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and 
develop our patrimony and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of 
independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, 
justice, freedom, love, equality and peace. 
The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty 
and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the 
enjoyment by all people of the blessings of democracy. 
SEC. 3. Principles Underlying the Comprehensive Peace Process 
- The comprehensive peace process shall be governed by the following 
underlying principles: 
b) 
a) 
A comprehensive peace process shall be community-based, 
reflecting the sentiments, values, and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it 
1 


shall be defined not by government alone, nor by the different contending 
groups only, but by all Filipinos as one community. 
A comprehensive peace process aims to forge a new compact for a 
just, equitable, humane and pluralistic society. It seeks to establish a genuinely 
pluralistic society where all individuals and groups are free to engage in peaceful 
competition for predominance of their political programs without fear, through 
the exercise of rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, and where 
they may compete for political power through an electoral system that is free, 
fair and honest. 
b) 
SEC. 4. Components of the Comprehensive Peace Process - The 
comprehensive peace process shall include, but not limited to, the following 
components: 
a) 
PURSUIT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS 
- This component would allow the Commission on Peace to act as a coordinative 
body of the various policies, reforms, programs and projects aimed at addressing 
the root causes of internal armed conflicts and social unrest. This may require 
administrative action, new legislation or even constitutional amendments. 
b) 
CONSENSUS-BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE - 
This component shall include the continuing consultations on both the national 
and local levels to build consensus for a peace agenda and process and the 
mobilization and facilitation of people’s participation in the peace process. 
c) 
PEACEFUL 
NEGOTIATED 
SElTLEMENT 
WITH 
THE 
DIFFERENT REBEL GROUPS- This component involves the conduct of face- 
to-face negotiations to reach peaceful settlements with the different rebel 
groups. 
d) 
PROGRAMS FOR RECONCILIATION, REINTEGRATION INTO 
MAINSTREAM SOCIETY AND REHABILITATION - This component shall 
include programs to address the legal status and security of former rebels, as 
well as community-based assistance programs to address the economic, social 
and psychological rehabilitation needs of former rebels, demobilized combatants, 
and civilian victims of the internal armed conflicts. 
e) 
ADDRESSING 
CONCERNS, 
ARISING 
FROM 
THE 
CONTINUING ARMED HOSTILITIES - This component involves the strict 
implementation of laws and policy guidelines, and the institution of programs to 
2 


ensure the protection of non-combatants and reduce the impact of the armed 
conflict on communities found in conflict areas. 
9 
BUILDING AND NURTURING A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO 
PEACE - This component shall include peace advocacy and peace education 
programs and the implementation of various confidence-building measures aimed 
at ensuring transparency and good faith in the peace process. 
SEC. 5. Creation of the Commission on Peace - There is hereby 
created an independent Commission on Peace which shall be tasked to assist the 
President in the active pursuit of a comprehensive peace process. 
a) The Commission on Peace shall be composed of a Chairman and four 
(4) Members who must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and, at the 
time of their appointment, at least thirty-five (35) years of age and must not 
have been a candidate for any elective position in the elections immediately 
preceding their appointment. 
b) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Peace shall 
not, during their tenure, hold any other office or employment. Neither shall they 
engage in the practice of any profession or in active management or control of 
any business which in any way may be affected by the functions of their office, 
nor shall be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with, or in 
any franchise or privilege granted by the government, any of its subdivisions, 
agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled 
corporations or their subsidiaries. 
c) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Peace shall be 
appointed by the President for a term of seven (7) years without reappointment. 
Appointments to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the 
predecessor. 
d) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Peace shall 
receive the same salary as the Chairman and members, respectively, of the 
Constitutional Commissions, which shall not be decreased during their term of 
office. 
e) In recognition of the crucial role of civil society in the implementation 
of a comprehensive peace process, one (1) member of the Commission on Peace 
should come from the civil society. 
3 


SEC. 6. Secretariat - There shall be a Peace Commission Secretariat, 
headed by an Executive Director which shall provide all the necessary 
administrative and technical support to the Commission on Peace. 
SEC. 7. 
Powers and Functions of the Commission - The 
Commission on Peace shall have the following powers and functions. 
1. Formulate policies, programs, guidelines, plans and provide direction in 
2. Conduct continuing consultations and dialogues with various sectors of 
the citizenry towards ensuring people‘s direct participation in the government’s 
peace process; 
3. Submit an annual report to both Houses of Congress on the process 
and implementation of people‘s recommendations resulting from consultation 
and dialogue; 
4. Request the assistance of the departments, agencies, including 
government-owned or controlled corporations in the efficient and effective 
implementation of the peace process; 
the implementation of the government’s peace process; 
5. Perform such other functions as well as exercise such powers as may 
be delegated or assigned by the President. 
SEC. 8. Citizen‘s Participation - The State recognizes the vital role of 
civil society in the comprehensive peace process. Citizen’s participation’s in the 
peace process shall be welcomed, enhanced and protected. Mechanisms for this 
include the basic sector’s peace agenda, peace consultations, citizen third-parties 
in the peace talks and community-based peace initiatives including peace zones. 
SEC. 9. Transparency and Accountability - The President and the 
administrative structure for carrying on the peace process shall pursue a policy of 
transparency and accountability subject to the confidentiality requirements of 
peace negotiations. 
SEC. 10. Abolition, Transfer of Assets and Personnel - All agencies 
involved in the implementation of the Six paths to peace stated herein such as 
the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) created 
under Executive No. 125, the National Program for Unification and Development 
Council (NPUDC) created under Executive Order No. 152 and the National Peace 
4 


Forum (NPF) created under Executive Order No. 115 and the Government of the 
Republic of the Philippines (GRP) panels are hereby abolished. 
The unexpended appropriations of the abovementioned agencies are 
hereby transferred to the Commission on Peace. 
All properties, records, 
equipment, buildings, facilities and other assets of same shall be transferred to 
the Commission. 
The Commission on Peace may retain such personnel of the OPAPP, the 
NPUDC and the NPF and the GRP panels, as may be necessary in the fulfilment 
of its powers and functions. Any public officer or employee separated from the 
service as a result of the abolition of the said offices affected under this Act shall 
receive the benefits to which he or she may be entitled under existing laws, rules 
and regulations. 
SEC. 11. Transition Period - Until such time that the Commission on 
Peace is fully operational, the OPAPP Secretariat shall continue to provide staff 
support to the Commission on Peace. It shall be under the direct control and 
supervision of the Chair of the Commission on Peace. 
SEC. 12. Appropriations - The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the 
year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
SEC. 13. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations - A Technical 
Working Group (TWG) composed of the agencies which were abolished and 
subsumed under the Commission on Peace shall promulgate the necessary rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act ninety (90) days after the 
passage of this Act. 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause - If any part or provision of this Act shall 
be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect, provided, however, 
that no provision hereof shall be construed as a diminution of any peace pact. 
5 


SEC. 15. Repealing Clause - All acts, laws, decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary to or inconsistent with 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,