Hovse OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
pare; 30 UN 2016
swe:__ 40
By:

Republic of the Philippin
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

493

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON, SITTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN of Anak Mindanao
(AMIN) Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Mindanao, because of the intermittent armed conflict there, especially in Central
Mindanao, has in recent times witnessed the mushrooming of people-initiated,
community-based responses in the form of Peace Zones, also known as “Sanctuaries of
Peace” and “Spaces for Peace.” At least 47 communities in Maguindanao, North
Cotabato and Lanao del Sur have declared themselves as “Sanctuaries of Peace” with
support from the NGO Tabang Minadanaw. Several communities in Pikit, North
Cotabato have declared themselves as “Spaces for Peace” with support from the local
parish office. Peace Zones have also been declared in Barangay. Barrio, Alabaman,
Lanao del Sur; Brgy. Bayanga Norte, Matanog, Maguindanao; Brgy. Makir, Datu Odin
Sinsuat, Maguindanao; Brgy. Daguan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur; So. Cagawaran, Brgy.
Tugaig, Barira, Maguindanao; and Brgy. Mataya, Buldon, Maguindanao with support
from the NGO Community Organization Multiversity.

The Peace Zone idea first arrived in 1988 and has since taken root in a number of
places buffeted by internal armed conflict from North to South of the country. The
pioneers were the various forms of Peace Zones (some called “Zones of Life”) in Naga
City, Camarines Sur; Sagada, Mountain Province; Tabuk, Kalinga-Apayao; So.
Cantomanyog, Brgy. Haba, Candoni, Negros Occidental; and Brgy. Bituan, Tulunan,
North Cotabato. The latter led to the establishment of three more peace zones in


Tulunan: So. New Alimodian, Brgy. Banayal; So. Miatub, Brgy. Tuburan; and Brey.
Nabundasan.

In more recent times, Tulunan has also seen a Peace Pact in Brgy. Dungos, Local
peace alternatives to ethnic conflict in Mindanao have emerged as Peace Zones in Brgy
Bual, Isulan, Maguindanao; Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur and Brgy. Maladeg, Sultan
Gumander, Lanao del Sur. These and other Peace Zones, in the context of recent
hostilities in Central Mindanao, show that people need not wait for top-level
negotiations between the government and the rebel groups to come to terms with each
other. At the same time, it is unfortunate that the government has sometimes made a
parody out of Peace Zones by declaring overrun and occupied MILE camps as such,
thus distorting the concept

There is a need, therefore, to not only clarify the concept of Peace Zones but also,
more importantly, set a national policy of openness, respect, recognition, consultation,
appropriate support, and ensuring the integrity and autonomy of this valuable Filipino
innovation and contribution to peace-building. This would complement and deepen a
comprehensive national peace policy. The most important thing is to affirm Peace
Zones as citizens’ initiatives regarding which government should play only a
supportive role.

Peace Zones are geographical areas which community residents themselves
declare to be off-limits to armed conflict. They could range in size from the area covered
by a purok or neighbourhood to that of a province. Based on terms and conditions set by
the people themselves, Peace Zones are maintained and reinforced by the community's
sustained, creative expressions of commitment to peace-building, which are expressed
and managed through community-based implementing structures.

Peace Zones constitute a people-initiated, community-based response to the
situation of raging armed conflict in the country. They work to intervene and
immediately relieve local communities in situations that threaten the security of life,
property, and livelihood of the civilian population. They seek to create a “social space”
in which to address and resolve community issues as well as to pursue a local
development agenda on the community’s own terms, They lay the groundwork for
pluralism and dialogue immediately on the local level in order to explore alternative
modes of conflict resolution, in accordance with their local culture and traditions.

Peace Zones all over the country comprise a major grassroots constituency for
the pursuit of peace processes at the national level. They support the peace process at
the horizontal level and are not totally separate from the peace talks al the vertical level.


‘They are not necessarily political solutions but can help explore peaceful processes that
could address the root causes of the armed conflict and lead to social transformation.

The national level, particularly Congress, must in turn consolidate and reinforce
the best practices at the local level such as Peace Zones. Early passage of this bill is,
therefore, requested.

ee ate
SIYTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. = 493

Introduced by HON. SITTI DJALIA A. TURABIN-HATAMAN of Anak Mindanao
(AMIN) Party-List

AN ACT DECLARING A NATIONAL POLICY ON PEACE ZONES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as “The Peace Zones Policy
Act of 2004.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Peace Zones - A peace zone is a people-initiated,
community-based arrangement in a local geographical area which residents themselves
declare to be off-limits to armed conflict primarily to protect the civilians, livelihood,
and property there and to contribute to the more comprehensive peace process.

The generic term “peace zones” shall also cover other similar people-initiated,
community-based arrangements known as “zones of life,” “sanctuaries of peace,”
“spaces for peace” and the like where there is a declared will of the people and
commitment of conflicting armed forces not to make their communities a battleground.

SECTION 3. Characteristics of Peace Zones. - In seeking adherence of the armed
parties to the conditions that have been set by the community, a Peace Zone will need to
show the following characteristics which establish that it is a community-based people’s
initiative:


a. It is declared and supported by a multi-sectoral group of community
residents, the more broadly-based the better, including ideally support or
conformity of the warring parties. In many cases but not necessarily, there
will be a high level of participation from community-based religious leaders
and/or members of the local government.

b. The specific boundaries of the Peace Zone have been clearly established.

c. A formal launching of the Peace Zone has been held in the community in
accordance with the people’s own culture and tradition.

d. There is a written declaration or resolution establishing the Peace Zone,
containing the specific terms and conditions to be followed within the Zone,
applying to all relevant parties, including community residents and the
armed parties. The terms and conditions must show no partiality to any
armed party. The terms and conditions should be as simple as possible
starting with the rule that the community shall be off-limits to armed conilict
or not made a battleground by the armed parties in respect of the will of the
people. Other terms and policies should be allowed to evolve and be
modified as the situation develops. Community particularities should
likewise be respected.

e, Community residents are organized to maintain the Peace Zone, with
community-based implementing structures, which identify clearly
established tasks and lines of responsibility. The supportive role of external

facilitators like the Church or NGOs should also be clearly defined.

SECTION 4. Basic Policy on Peace Zones. - The basic policy on Peace Zones
shall be one of openness, respect, recognition, consultation, appropriate support, and
ensuring their integrity and autonomy.

SECTION 5. Specific Policies on Peace Zones. - Some specific policies on Peace
Zones shall be as follows:

a. Peace Zone proponents will undertake direct negotiations separately with
each armed party. Any agreement reached with a combatant group


constitutes a bilateral pact, autonomous of any agreement that may be
reached with other armed parties,

b. Peace Zones shall, as much as possible, be demilitarized of both government
and dissident armed forces, including paramilitary forces and private armies
‘This does not preclude the community from agreeing to the deployment of
peace-keeping or law enforcement units for protection from criminal
elements as the situation warrants.

c. Peace Zones shall be oriented to the peace process, and not be used for
counter-insurgency or for rebel base-building.

d. Special development assistance to a Peace Zone shall be subject to
community-based decision-making, and implementation. Development
programs and projects should be identified, requested or agreed on by the
community.

e. Peace Zones shall not be subjected to any blockade of food, vital services and
development projects approved of by the local community.

TION 6. Official and Formal Agreement with Government. - For a Peace
Zone to achieve an official and formal agreement with the government, the
following processes shall be observed:

a. A copy of the written Peace Zone declaration will be officially forwarded to
the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), directly
by the community or through supporting peace groups. It would be ideal for
such declaration to be supported by the local government authorities at the
barangay, municipal/city and provincial levels and by the district or party-
list representative concerned

b, The OPAPP will assume ultimate responsibility and authority, on behalf of
the President, for the government's side of the process, coordinating, with the
necessary line agencies and the military, on local and/or national levels,
including for the issuance of any necessary directives



¢. The process will include a direct dialogue with the local Peace Zone
proponents during which the specific terms and conditions of the Peace Zone
will be discussed.

d. Following the process undertaken within a reasonable time frame, the
OPAPP will issue a written statement of its decision on whether or not it will
enter into a formal agreement with the Peace Zone. If positive, a
Memorandum of Agreement will be jointly drawn up constituting, terms
agreeable to both parties.

e, There may also be joint local government-community and church-comm
actions on Peace Zones.

SECTION 7.Sanctions.- Sanctions shall be imposed by the armed parties on

members of their own forces that violate their agreements with a Peace Zone that it has
duly recognized. Such sanctions shall be binding. On the part of government,
administrative charges shall be filed against errant members. Moreover, the “dictates of
the public conscience” shall be applied to parties that choose to ignore the people's
declaration of a Peace Zone.

SECTION 8,Repealing Clause. Any provision of law or regulations inconsistent

herewith is hereby repealed, revoked or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9.Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional or inoperative, the other provisions shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 10.Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,