, 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
114 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Declaration of Principles and State Policies in 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. 
The government, through the years, have consistently expressed its continuing 
interest to invest in programs that will bring about peace to Mindanao. The prevailing 
rage in Basilan and other parts of Mindanao has caused major alarm and concerns as 
to the true status of peace negotiations and more importantly the over-all seturity policy 
not only in Mindanao but also throughout the country. 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. 
Two recent incidents have shown how inadequate and incomplete the current 
programs on the peace process truly are. First is the escalated inhumane violence 
brought about by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2008 when the 
Bangsamoro movement was pushing for the detachment of numerous parts of 


Mindanao from the central government. The armies of the MILF were sweeping through 
towns causing death and injury to our unfortunate brothers and sisters in Mindanao. 
Clearly there was lack of effectiveness in the peace process conducted by the 
designated government agencies. 
Another incident was the tragedy that was dubbed the Maguindanao Massacre 
where fifty-seven people including members of the rnedia were slaughtered. 
The 
Maguindanao Massacre has again brought to fore, but more shockingly, the 
weaknesses of Philippine governance in the ungovernable "Wild, Wild West" of Muslim 
Mindanao. Among these weaknesses are "structural inequities in our political system, 
including control by an elite minority, traditional politicians and political dynasties, and 
enforcement of such control through private armies. By creating a centralized agency 
geared towards peace talks and the maintenance of peace in Minadanao there will be a 
more effective way of negotiating for peace with the insurgents in Mindanao. 
This measure seeks to institutionalize a National Peace Policy that is governed 
by the following principles: 
a. 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. 
b. A comprehensive peace process that aims to forge a new compact for 
a 
just, 
equitable, humane ana pluralistiGsoGiety.lt seeks to establish -a §enuinely 
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. 
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, -progr~mSccfOHee()JjeHiatjofl~feintegr~tiorT1mo~maiflstreClm-s(")eiety;-
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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, the immediate passage of this bill is hereby earnestly 
sought. 
3 
aRia B. HONASAN II 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 114 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
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 2010". 
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 govemment 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, 
fre~dom, love, equality and peace. 
b. 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: 
4 


a. A comprehensive peace process shall be community-based, reflecting the 
sentiments, values, and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it shall be 
defined not by govemment alone, nor by the different contending groups only, 
but by all Filipinos as one community. 
b. 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. 
SEC. 4. Components of the Comprehensive Peace Process - The comprehensive 
peace process shall include, but not limited to, the foHowing 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 intemal 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 SEITLEMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT REBEL 
GROUPS 
This component involves the conduct of face-to-face negotiations to reach peaceful 
settlements with the different rebel groups. 
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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 ensure the protection of non-combatants and reduce the 
impact of the armed conflict on communities found in conflict areas. 
f) BUILDING AND NURTURING A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO PEACE 
This component shall include peace advocacy and peace education programs and the 
implementation· of various-
confidence-suilding· measures-
aimeEi 
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. 
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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. , 
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. Citizenfs PartiCipation - The State recognizes the vital role of civil society in 
the comprehensive peace process. Citizen's participation's in the peace process shall 
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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. Tran'sparency 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 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. 
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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. 
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, 
9