Ad Hoc Joint Action Group Overview

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TIMELINE OF DOCUMENTS TIMELINE OF DOCUMENTS TIMELINE OF DOCUMENTS

The Revised AFP/PNP OperationalThe Revised AFP/PNP OperationalThe Revised AFP/PNP OperationalGuidelines for the Ad Hoc Joint Group ofGuidelines for the Ad Hoc Joint Group ofGuidelines for the Ad Hoc Joint Group of201320132013

In order to enhance the operational capability of the

AHJAG and be more responsive to the current

developments in the GPH-MILF peace talks, the AFP and

PNP issued a revised Joint AFP/PNP Operational

Guidelines for AHJAG. This letter directive is aimed to

ensure that the procedures are followed by all its units

from the headquarters down to the operating units in the

ground.

The document was signed at Camp Aguinaldo on July 23,

2013 by Police Director Alan LM Purisima and

General Emmanuel T. Bautista, in the presence of

Prof. Miriam Coronel

Ferrer of the GPH Peace

Panel. Also present

were top-ranking offi-

cers of the PNP and

AFP and members of

the ceasefire mecha-

nisms.

This operational guide-

line provides for an organizational structure, including

specific functions, of AFP and PNP members who will

serve as members of the Government’s AHJAG. It also

outlines specific procedure on what to do during Phase 1

(Prior to Law Enforcement operations), Phase 2 (During

Law Enforcement Functions) and Phase 3 (After Law

Enforcement Functions).

Certification of renewal of the mandate ofCertification of renewal of the mandate ofCertification of renewal of the mandate of AHJAG AHJAG AHJAG

The GPH and MILF Panels renew the mandate of the

AHJAG every year. The current mandate will end on

February 2015.

The current Chair of the GPH AHJAG is

BGen Manolito P. Orense, the Assistant Division

Commander of the 6th Infantry Division in Camp Siongco,

Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguidanao. On its part, the

PNP also created a Focal Team on the Peace Process

(FTPP) which attends to peace process concerns,

including AHJAG matters. It is headed by PDir Edgardo C.

Ingking and with members coming from its various

units.

The 2002 Joint Communiqué between the GPH andThe 2002 Joint Communiqué between the GPH andThe 2002 Joint Communiqué between the GPH andthe MILF the MILF the MILF

Despite the ceasefire agreement between the GPH and the MILF,

incidents of armed fighting between the BIAF-MILF and the law

enforcement units of the Government had occurred when the latter

were running after criminal elements within or near “MILF areas/

communities.” The GPH and the MILF recognized that the activities

of these criminal groups impede the peace process, the effective

pursuit of development programs, and the efficient delivery of basic

services to the poor. Thus in 2002, the AHJAG was created in orderto isolate and interdict criminal syndicates and kidnap-for-ransom

groups, including so called “lost commands" operating in

Mindanao. The Joint Communique calls for the necessary

coordination between the Government and MILF forces to effect the

apprehension of criminal syndicates and kidnap for ransom groups,

including so-called “lost commands” of the MILF.

The 2012 Approved Implementing Guidelines on theThe 2012 Approved Implementing Guidelines on theThe 2012 Approved Implementing Guidelines on the Joint Communiqué of 06 May 2002 Joint Communiqué of 06 May 2002 Joint Communiqué of 06 May 2002

In order to further improve coordination and continuously deal

with the complex security situation on the ground, an

implementing guidelines was issued by the Parties on 21

December 2004. The most recent guidelines was signed on 15

February 2012.

Under the latest implementing guidelines, the scope of the target

of operations was expanded to include not just criminal

syndicates, kidnap-for-ransom groups and lost commands, butalso other criminal elements within “MILF areas/communities”.

The guidelines provides for operational definitions of the terms

used, organization and composition of the AHJAG and the

mechanics of implementation.

The AHJAG role was also clarified as “coordinative,” to

differentiate it from the role of the operating units of the AFP

and PNP who will execute the actual law enforcement functions,including hot pursuit operations.

The mechanics of implementation provides, among others, that

the GPH AHJAG shall coordinate with the MILF AHJAG at least

24 hours prior to the conduct of the AFP/PNP operations in

order to allow sufficient time for the evacuation of civilians, and

to avoid armed confrontation between the GPH and MILF forces.

The 24-hour prior coordination rule may be cut short in cases of

high-priority targets, as has been the practice in the past. A sub-

mission of a list of high priority targets by the GPH Peace Panelto the MILF Peace Panel was also mandated.

The Ad hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG)Ad hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG)Ad hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) was created by

virtue of the Joint Communiqué dated 6 May 2002 Joint Communiqué dated 6 May 2002 Joint Communiqué dated 6 May 2002

between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) andthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Its

Implementing Guidelines was subsequently issued on 21

December 2004, and underwent several renewals and

amendments, the most recent of which was signed on 15February 2012.

The AHJAG is a coordinative body tasked to coordinate,monitor and disseminate information between and

among the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and thePhilippine National Police (PNP) on the one hand, and the

MILF and its Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF),

on the other, to effect the apprehension and arrest of the

suspected criminal elements within communities/areaswith considerable MILF concentration (“MILF areas/

communities”).

The AHJAG was formally organized on 12 January 2005.

Since its establishment, the MILF-AHJAG has been headed

by Atty. Abdul Dataya, while the following successively

took the leadership of GPH-AHJAG:

1. MGen Mohammed Ben D. Dolorfino

2. BGen Mohammad Askalani

3. BGen Jose B. Vizcarra

4. BGen Alan R. Luga

5. BGen Roland Amarille

6. BGen Leo Cresente M. Ferrer

7. BGen Manolito P. Orense (present)

ADADAD---HOC JOINT ACTION GROUPHOC JOINT ACTION GROUPHOC JOINT ACTION GROUP

OVERVIEWOVERVIEWOVERVIEW

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OPERATIONAL DIAGRAM OF LEO FOR AHJAGOPERATIONAL DIAGRAM OF LEO FOR AHJAGOPERATIONAL DIAGRAM OF LEO FOR AHJAG

GPH AHJAGGPH AHJAGGPH AHJAG

HHQs

CCCHCCCHCCCH

Phase 1 endsPhase 1 endsPhase 1 endsw h e n t h ew h e n t h ew h e n t h evalidation from thevalidation from thevalidation from theMILF is received &MILF is received &MILF is received &info is passed oninfo is passed oninfo is passed onto appropriateto appropriateto appropriateagencies/units.agencies/units.agencies/units.

Phase 1: Before Law Enforcement Opn Phase 2: During Law Enforcement Opn Phase 3: After LEOPhase 3: After LEOPhase 3: After LEO

1) Establish1) Establish1) Establish

direct linkagedirect linkagedirect linkage

3) Monitors3) Monitors3) Monitorsoperationaloperationaloperationaltimelines &timelines &timelines &remindsremindsremindscmdrs of itscmdrs of itscmdrs of itsobservanceobservanceobservance

GPHGPHGPH

FORCESFORCESFORCES

2) Informs of2) Informs of2) Informs ofan ongoingan ongoingan ongoingarmedarmedarmedconfrontationconfrontationconfrontationbn the GPHbn the GPHbn the GPH& MILF& MILF& MILFforces toforces toforces toresolve theresolve theresolve the

Informs &Informs &Informs &refers ifrefers ifrefers ifconflictconflictconflictescalatesescalatesescalates

Phase II endsPhase II endsPhase II ends

when GPH forces’when GPH forces’when GPH forces’

operation in theoperation in theoperation in the

area is terminated.area is terminated.area is terminated.

GPH FORCESGPH FORCESGPH FORCES

(AFP/PNP)


TEAM

MILF AHJAGMILF AHJAGMILF AHJAG

Hot PursuitsOpns

Cmdr Coordinatesw/ AHJAG

Implementationof SW, rescue ofKidnap victim &other LEO

Cmdr informs AH-JAG 24hrs prior toopns

1) Informs in1) Informs in1) Informs inwriting of anwriting of anwriting of animpending LEOimpending LEOimpending LEO

IN CASES OF THE ABOVE

2) Conveys2) Conveys2) ConveysWanted ListWanted ListWanted Listthrough Letter through Letter through Letter

3) Received3) Received3) Receivedvalidated Wantedvalidated Wantedvalidated WantedListListList

YYY

NNN

4) Follows4) Follows4) Follows---upupupfor promptfor promptfor promptactionactionaction

5) Receives5) Receives5) Receivesinfor & passesinfor & passesinfor & passeson toon toon toappropriateappropriateappropriateagenciesagenciesagencies

6) identifies6) identifies6) identifiesOperatingOperatingOperatingUnits/AOUnits/AOUnits/AO

7) Communi-7) Communi-7) Communi-cates info tocates info tocates info tocounterpartscounterpartscounterparts

8) Informs8) Informs8) InformsGPH & MILFGPH & MILFGPH & MILFCCCH at leastCCCH at leastCCCH at least24hrs prior to24hrs prior to24hrs prior toLEO exceptLEO exceptLEO excepton opnon opnon opnagainst HPTagainst HPTagainst HPT

w /

a c t i

o n

N O a c t i o

n UnresolvedUnresolvedUnresolved

issues beissues beissues beelevated toelevated toelevated tothe GPHthe GPHthe GPH---MILFMILFMILFPeace PanelPeace PanelPeace Panel

GPHGPHGPH

FORCESFORCESFORCES

1) Receives &1) Receives &1) Receives &documentsdocumentsdocumentsapprehendedapprehendedapprehendedpersonalitiespersonalitiespersonalitiesfor eventualfor eventualfor eventualturnover turnover turnover COURTCOURTCOURT

2) Turnover of document2) Turnover of document2) Turnover of document


3) Prepares AHJAG3) Prepares AHJAG3) Prepares AHJAGOperations reportOperations reportOperations report

Phase III endsPhase III endsPhase III ends

when AHJAGwhen AHJAGwhen AHJAG

T e a m h a sT e a m h a sT e a m h a s

rendered anrendered anrendered an

official report toofficial report toofficial report to

the AHJAG Corethe AHJAG Corethe AHJAG Core

GroupGroupGroup

References:

a. Joint Communiqué between the Government of the Republic

of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic LiberationFront (MILF) dated 6 May 2002.

b. Approved Implementing Guidelines on the Joint

Communiqué of 06 May 2002 dated 15 February 2012,

including previous versions of the Guidelines since 2004c. Revised Joint AFP/PNP Operational Guidelines for the Ad

Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) dated 23 July 2013d. Primer on the GPH-MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group

(AHJAG), S2006

e. Certification on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) dated 26 January 2014.

AHJAG ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTAHJAG ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

---MAGUINDANAOMAGUINDANAOMAGUINDANAO

---N.COTN.COTN.COT

---BUKIDNONBUKIDNONBUKIDNON

---ALL Cities thereinALL Cities thereinALL Cities therein

---ZAMBO PROVINCESZAMBO PROVINCESZAMBO PROVINCES

--- All Cities thereinAll Cities thereinAll Cities therein

---LANAO PROVINCESLANAO PROVINCESLANAO PROVINCES

--- All Cities thereinAll Cities thereinAll Cities therein

TS

(2 GPH, 2 MILF)(2 GPH, 2 MILF)(2 GPH, 2 MILF)

TS 2


TS 3


TS 4


TS 5


--- SOCSARGENSOCSARGENSOCSARGEN

--- SULTAN KUDARATSULTAN KUDARATSULTAN KUDARAT

--- ALL Cities thereinALL Cities thereinALL Cities therein

---DAVAO PROVINCESDAVAO PROVINCESDAVAO PROVINCES

--- Compostella ValleyCompostella ValleyCompostella Valley

---All Cities thereinAll Cities thereinAll Cities therein

SECRETARIAT

AHJAG

CORE GROUP:CORE GROUP:CORE GROUP:(4 GPH, 4 MILF)(4 GPH, 4 MILF)(4 GPH, 4 MILF)

Reference: Joint AFP/PNP Operational Guidelines for the Ad-Hoc Joint Group signed on 23 July 2013

Prepared by: GPH CCCH/AHJAG Secretariat

Documents

Ad Hoc Joint Action Group Overview