QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 335)
EO 335 constitutes the Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee to implement and monitor the GRP–RPM-P/RPA/ABB Peace Agreement provisions, including the release of political prisoners and implementation of agreed development projects.
The Committee is composed of (1) Secretary Alexander P. Aguirre (GRP), (2) Undersecretary Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. (GRP), (3) Ariel Sabandar (RPM-P/RPA/ABB), (4) Veronica Tabara (RPM-P/RPA/ABB), and (5) a fifth member chosen by representatives of both sides who must be of known integrity, impartiality, ability, and patriotism.
The fifth member must be a person of known integrity, impartiality, ability, and patriotism, and is chosen by representatives of both the GRP and the RPM-P/RPA/ABB.
The Committee shall form and organize a Secretariat to support them in performing their functions.
EO 335 creates a Reintegration Fund for programs/projects to assist political prisoners to be released under the Peace Agreement, including support for reintegration to civil society and other development undertakings of RPM-P/RPA/ABB political prisoners.
The Reintegration Fund amounts to Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) and is sourced from the President’s Social Fund.
The Committee shall manage the utilization of the Reintegration Fund subject to existing government rules and regulations.
Section 3 directs the Secretary of the Department of Budget to release Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) from the President’s Contingent Fund (PCF) to initially cover operational expenses of the Committee and its Secretariat.
Thereafter, additional funds shall be released by the DBM subject to submission of a Work and Financial Plan drawn up for the purpose by the Committee.
The Secretary of the Department of Budget releases the initial P5,000,000.00 from the PCF, and thereafter the DBM releases additional funds based on the submitted Work and Financial Plan.
EO 335 takes effect immediately, as stated in Section 4.
It must ensure and monitor (1) release of political prisoners, (2) dismissal of charges and reintegration into civil society, and (3) implementation of development projects such as livelihood, housing assistance, education and training, primary health care, agriculture and irrigation, farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, micro-finance and credit programs, and transport and hauling facilities.
It provides the official government mechanism to enforce and monitor compliance with the Peace Agreement terms, institutionalizing oversight and coordination through an identified committee and funding structures.
It expressly states that the Committee exists to ensure and monitor implementation of Peace Agreement provisions, including the release of political prisoners and the implementation of development projects intended to assist those released.
Examples include livelihood, housing assistance, education and training, primary health care, agriculture and irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, micro-finance and credit programs, and transport and hauling facilities.
Because the Committee is intended to implement and monitor a sensitive peace process involving both government and non-state parties, the standards help ensure fairness, credible oversight, and responsible use of public funds consistent with government rules and regulations.