TIMELINE OF DOCUMENTS

AD
AD--HOC JOINT ACTION GROUP
OVERVIEW

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

virtue of the Joint Communiqu dated 6 May 2002
between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and
the 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 15
February 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 the
Philippine 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/areas
with 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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

MGen Mohammed Ben D. Dolorfino

BGen Mohammad Askalani
BGen Jose B. Vizcarra
BGen Alan R. Luga
BGen Roland Amarille
BGen Leo Cresente M. Ferrer
BGen Manolito P. Orense (present)

The 2002 Joint Communiqu between the GPH and

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 order
to 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 the

Joint Communiqu 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, but
also 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 submission of a list of high priority targets by the GPH Peace Panel
to the MILF Peace Panel was also mandated.

The
Revised
AFP/PNP
Operational
Guidelines for the Ad Hoc Joint Group of
2013

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 officers of the PNP and
AFP and members of
the ceasefire mechanisms.
This operational guideline provides for an organizational structure, including
specific functions, of AFP and PNP members who will
serve as members of the Governments 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 of

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.

OPERATIONAL DIAGRAM OF LEO FOR AHJAG

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

GPH FORCES

Cmdr Coordinates
w/ AHJAG

Hot Pursuits
Opns

1) Establish
direct linkage

GPH
FORCES

(AFP/PNP)
Implementation
of SW, rescue of
Kidnap victim &
other LEO
1) Informs in
writing of an
impending LEO

6) identifies
Operating
Units/AO

TEAM

w/

ac
tio
n

HHQs

1) Receives &
documents
apprehended
personalities
for eventual
turnover

FORCES

3) Monitors
operational
timelines &
reminds
cmdrs of its
observance

2) Informs of
an ongoing
armed
confrontation
bn the GPH
& MILF
forces to
resolve the

i on
act

Phase 1: Before Law Enforcement Opn

TS 1

TS 2

TS 3

TS 4

TS 5

(2
(2 GPH,
GPH, 22 MILF)
MILF)

(2
(2 GPH,
GPH, 22 MILF)
MILF)

(2
(2 GPH,
GPH, 22 MILF)
MILF)

(2
(2 GPH,
GPH, 22 MILF)
MILF)

(2
(2 GPH,
GPH, 22 MILF)
MILF)

---MAGUINDANAO
MAGUINDANAO

---LANAO
LANAO PROVINCES
PROVINCES

---ZAMBO
ZAMBO PROVINCES
PROVINCES

---N.COT
N.COT

--- All
All Cities
Cities therein
therein

--- All
All Cities
Cities therein
therein

---BUKIDNON
BUKIDNON

---DAVAO
DAVAO PROVINCES
PROVINCES

--- SULTAN
SULTAN KUDARAT
KUDARAT

--- Compostella
Compostella Valley
Valley

--- ALL
ALL Cities
Cities therein
therein

---All
All Cities
Cities therein
therein

References:
GPH AHJAG
3) Prepares AHJAG
Operations report

a.
b.

e.

Phase 2: During Law Enforcement Opn

--- SOCSARGEN
SOCSARGEN

---ALL
ALL Cities
Cities therein
therein

d.

Phase II ends
when GPH forces
operation in the
area is terminated.

AHJAG

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

COURT

c.

4) Follows
Follows--up
for prompt
action

Phase 1 ends
w h e n
t h e
validation from the
MILF is received &
info is passed on
to
appropriate
agencies/units.

SECRETARIAT

2) Turnover of document

Unresolved
issues be
elevated to
the GPH
GPH--MILF
Peace Panel

AHJAG ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

GPH AHJAG

CCCH

NO

MILF AHJAG

7) Communicates info to
counterparts

8) Informs
GPH & MILF
CCCH at least
24hrs prior to
LEO except
on opn
against HPT

GPH AHJAG

2) Conveys
Wanted List
through Letter

GPH

IN CASES OF THE ABOVE

5) Receives
infor & passes
on to
appropriate
agencies

3) Received
validated Wanted
List

Informs &
refers if
conflict
escalates

Cmdr informs AHJAG 24hrs prior to

opns

Phase III ends

when
AHJAG
Team
has
rendered
an
official report to
the AHJAG Core
Group

Joint Communiqu between the Government of the Republic

of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) dated 6 May 2002.
Approved Implementing Guidelines on the Joint
Communiqu of 06 May 2002 dated 15 February 2012,
including previous versions of the Guidelines since 2004
Revised Joint AFP/PNP Operational Guidelines for the Ad
Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) dated 23 July 2013
Primer on the GPH-MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group
(AHJAG), S2006
Certification on the Renewal of the Mandate of the Ad Hoc
Joint Action Group (AHJAG) dated 26 January 2014.

Phase 3: After LEO

Prepared by: GPH CCCH/AHJAG Secretariat