“OPLAN BAYANIHAN”, A SUCCESS FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!

by Krit

 

          

          The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) “OPLAN Bayanihan” resulted from a series of forums and consultations among the AFP, NGAs, and other several stakeholders contrary to the parallel claims of Anakpawis representative Rafael Mariano (People’s Tonight, Dec. 23 2010) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) (www.philippinerevolution.net) that the said program was patterned after the US Counter-Insurgency (COIN) Guide.

 

          This recently formulated Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) embodies the new ideals of the AFP as a constantly learning institution that focuses on winning the peace rather than simply defeating the enemy. Through the vigorous participation of the majority of the stakeholders, the AFP succeeded in designing a plan that carries out a ‘whole-of-nation approach’ and a ‘people-centered approach’ that respond to the issue of defending and upholding human rights and International Humanitarian Law while encouraging maximum involvement amongst Filipino people.

 

          Likewise, People’s Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (PEACE) fully supports “OPLAN Bayanihan”. This plan shall embark a major paradigm shift in the military institution that focuses in winning people in communities more than winning in actual field battles. We commend the AFP for the IPSP as one of the most daring challenges to be undertaken by the military institution as it involves a change in mindset of the institution.

 

          Instead of disparaging the AFP’s IPSP, which was a fruitful result of the convergence of efforts of the AFP together with different stakeholders, PEACE calls on to those critics to partake in bringing forth peace and development as we consequently isolate and defeat the real enemies of the state. PEACE also dares the CPP-NPA-NDF to enunciate their own plan in front of the sovereign Filipino people—if they rather prefer to shed blood and waste thousands of lives in a battle for a lost cause than to peacefully talk and settle relevant issues and eventually submit themselves within the bounds of the law and the democratic system.

 

          Let the Filipino people themselves lay witness and be the judge!