The GPH-CBA/CPLA Closure Agreement

Download the Memorandum of Agreement here.

The search for peace is one of the priorities of the Aquino administration, as peace agenda is always in the consciousness of the present government.

In pursuing a principled settlement for peace in the Cordillera and to hasten the progress and development in the area, the GPH and CPLA Peace Process Closure Plan Program was formulated with the end view of transforming the CPLA into a potent socio-economic unarmed force. The Closure Program is in line with the aspiration and fulfillment of the Mt. Data Peace Accord which was signed 25 years ago with former President Corazon C. Aquino.

Government’s peace agenda is focused on two tracks. track 1: Negotiated political settlement of all armed conflict, particularly the completion of implementation of signed FPA with the CPLA and track 2: Complementary tracks through PAMANA which is a convergence of peace building program focused on development of conflict affected areas to address root causes of conflict. It aimed to provide assurance for the continuing commitment of the government to deliver development projects to conflict affected communities.

Thus far, the Memorandum of Agreement and its Implementing Guidelines on the Development of CBA/CPLA Communities contained in the Closure Plan Program have been finalized for signature of both Parties. The element of the MOA shall include community development projects; transformation of the organization into a socio-economic unarmed force; disposition of arms and forces and documentation of the CBA/CPLA history and its struggle. The economic program shall benefit 57 barangays in the 6 provinces of Cordillera.

On 6 May 2011, a Joint Declaration for Peace was signed by the parties to signify it’s unwavering support to fast track peace and development in the Cordillera as it has been a long overdue commitment of the government. The Joint Declaration is a prelude to the final signing of the Closure Agreement to be held in Malacañang.

The 1st Joint GPH and CBA-CPLA panel meeting was held to enhance the MOA on the community development before the closure agreement signing. Likewise on May 14, 2011, 2nd Joint GPH and CBA-CPLA meeting aimed to discuss and come up with consensus points on the enhanced MOA.

Political Situation vis-à-vis Closure Agreement

The demand for autonomy for the Cordilleras was put forward by a group of students in the early 1960s during the US-backed dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The demand was taken up by successive student leaders until it was adopted by a broad movement of the Cordillera peoples.

The movement coincided with the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship. Due to the influence of the CPP, the struggle in the Cordilleras was conducted along the lines of a "protracted people's war", a Maoist military schema.

The CPLA-CBA seems to have decided on a political rather than a military strategy to rebuild a mass movement for genuine autonomy. A recent meeting of the CAR resulted in the sacking of the old executive board (appointed by the government) and the election of a new board consisting of several leading, battle-hardened cadre of the CPLA. These changes have resulted in leading military cadre being shifted into above-ground political work.

Cordillera Day 1998 was held in the wake of the resounding rejection of a bogus autonomy act in a second plebiscite. It reiterated the basic position of the Cordillera peoples’ movement on the issue – genuine respect of ancestral land rights, indigenous socio-political institutions, and democratic processes is the essence of Genuine Regional Autonomy.

The people of the Cordillera are fighting for autonomy from the Philippines state, which they call "imperialist Manila". They are composed of various ethnic groups, including the Ifugao, Kalinga, Tingguian, Isneg, Bontok, Kankanacy and Ibaloi. The Cordillera people are also referred to as "Igorots" (people from the mountains).

As a result of a consultative political mapping of the local government executives (LGEs) of CAR in view of the closure agreement, 19 have expressed approval to the agreement, 17 have unclear stand and 1 was unsupportive to the initiative. 

In view of this, OPAPP and CBA/CPLA jointly launched an advocacy campaign to ensure active participation of all CAR LGEs for the success of the closure agreement and to gather support from the local officials with unclear disposition to the issue.

The top local government executives of the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao, Mt. Province and Abra have strongly expressed their support to the ongoing Peace process with the CPLA and the forthcoming signing of the GPH-CBA/CPLA Closure Agreement. The committed support will include, but not limited to, technical assistance, manpower and logistical backing to ensure the success of the CPLA identified development projects in selected barangays covered by the Closure Agreement.

Download the Memorandum of Agreement here.