Military starts new anti-insurgency strategy

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has started implementing its new anti-insurgency strategy aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people rather than directly confronting the enemy, to achieve peace and stability and finally put an end to the 40-year communist insurgency. The new Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP), dubbed as “Bayanihan,” was set into motion on January 1 and would be implemented until the end of the term of President Benigno Aquino 3rd in 2016.

“The IPSP was anchored on the President’s national security strategy which emerges from the realization of lasting peace and stability, development and social progress, through a multi-stakeholder approach focused on the protection of the citizens’ rights and civil liberties,” Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., chief of the Armed Forces public affairs office, said.

He said that IPSP Bayanihan is a paradigm shift from its predecessor, the IPSP Bantay Laya, owing to the former’s two-dimensional approach in solving the insurgency problem.

“There will be equal emphasis on the combat and non-combat dimension of the campaign such that efforts are not only focused on combat operations, but will likewise give importance on the peaceful settlement of conflicts,” Burgos added.

“Hence, parameters of success shall also put importance on the number of friends won as contrasted to enemies killed,” he further said.

The Armed Forces leadership is highly optimistic that IPSP Bayanihan would end what IPSP Bantay Laya started.

“It [IPSP Bayanihan] is characterized by an increasing involvement of stakeholders from the government side and the civil society comprising a ‘Whole of Nation’ approach,” Burgos said.

He added that the new IPSP also advocates a “People-Centered Approach,” characterized with a strict adherence to the International Humanitarian Law, human rights and the rule of law.

“Through this new plan, the AFP articulates its desire and commitment to the peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, and our firm belief that lasting peace and security is a shared vision and undertaking among the security sector, stakeholders and the entire citizenry,” Burgos said.

Gains vs. threats
The Armed Forces, in its 2010 yearend report, said that substantial gain was achieved in its campaign against communist insurgents and terror groups.

It said that the membership of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was reduced further to a historic low of 4,111 from 4,702 in 2009, way below peak of more than 25,000 during the 70s.

Of the 4,111 communist rebels, 52 percent, or 591, have surrendered voluntarily and have availed of the government’s integration and livelihood programs. Communist-affected barangays have also decreased from 1,077 to 1,017 at the end of 2010, as a result of successful security operations, community-based civil-military operations and the implementation of active information drive in rural barangays and urban town centers.

Three communist guerilla fronts have been dismantled, from 51 in 2009 to 48 by the end of 2010, as a result of intensive military operations, further reducing the strength, resources and influence of the insurgency.

Arrested NPA personalities in 2010 included five regional committee leaders and three front secretaries in Northern Luzon, Davao region, Panay and Negros island.

On terror threats, Armed Forces operations in Basilan and Sulu have reduced the Abu Sayyaf ranks from 391 terrorists and 340 firearms in 2009 to 340 elements and 296 firearms by end 2010.

It said that the successful counter-terrorism operations resulted to the neutralization of 51 terrorists including key leaders Albader Parad and Abdulgafur Jumdail who were killed in two separate encounters with government forces in Sulu.

The Armed Forces also claimed that its counter-terrorism efforts have resulted to a significant reduction in the frequency of terrorist attacks from 54 in 2009 to 29 in 2010.

On the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Armed Forces said that there was no significant change in the rebel group’s strength, but claimed that it has been successfully contained by the military while upholding the primacy of the peace process and adhering to the standing ceasefire agreement.

It added that MILF violent activities have been significantly reduced to 31 in 2010 compared to 298 in 2009. –WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL REPORTER, Manila Times