AFP: WE NEED TO CIVILIANIZE THE WAR WITH INSURGENCY

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared that there is no absolute military solution to insurgency as it exhorts LGUs and other stakeholders to mobilize and take active role.

Brigadier General Francisco N Cruz Jr., chief of the Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the AFP, averred that realities on the ground suggest the severe decline of the CPP-NPA as military efforts have reduced the group’s strength by 78.7% from its peak of 25,200 in 1987. In 2009, its strength is estimated at 4,702.

Cruz elaborated, “from 2001-2009, there has been an annual average of 10.8% consistent decline in NPA strength; while the CPP-NPA is estimated to be in existence at only less than 3% in rural barangays.

“However, considering the multi-dimensional nature of insurgency, there needs more synchronization of government efforts to strategically and categorically defeat the CPP-NPA-NDF insurgency. The best approach is the holistic approach that addresses the root causes of insurgency – injustice, deprivation and ignorance,” he stressed.

AFP cites Executive Order 773 or the “Further Reorganization of the Peace and Order Council”, enacted in 2009, as an effective response to insurgency, aiming to achieve a unity of effort in all levels – strategic, operational, and tactical.

The National Internal Security Plan (NISP) under EO 21, meanwhile, also demands a “strategy of holistic approach”.

“As supported by EO 773 and the NISP, LGU chief executives should be empowered and become more decisive to lead us in our counter-insurgency efforts because it is them that can effectively address the grievances in their localities through the use of their development funds,’ explained Cruz.

“We need to civilianize this war; meaning, we must allow the non-military methods to dominate our strategy with LGU taking the lead role,” conveyed the CRS chief.

AFP alludes to Bohol as an exemplary paradigm of an LGU-led counter-insurgency. Other provinces that have also been declared as insurgency-free are Aurora, Cebu, La Union, Marinduque, Quirino, Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, Apayao, Tarlac and Romblon; while more are poised to follow.

Cruz explained that declaration of insurgency-free in an area means that the insurgent’s influence in the mentioned areas is non-existent or too insignificant to affect the lives of the residents.
“We believe that with the proactive participation of the LGUs and other stakeholders, driven by a sense of purpose and urgency, the CPP-NPA can finally be defeated,” he stressed.

AFP avows to uphold its main role to secure communities to allow development to thrive, also sustaining its non-traditional duties such as its engineering civic actions through the National Development and Support Command (NADESCOM) and its Kalayaan Barangay Program (KBP); the deployment of Peace and Development Teams (PDTs) nationwide to fast-track the delivery of government’s basic services and localized dialogues; its support to literacy through the Army Literacy Patrol System (ALPS) and the adopt-a-school projects; among many others.

“Assigning more troops will never be enough to enforce lasting peace and sustainable development. The nation can always depend on our soldiers’ unflinching courage, professionalism, and commitment. But we cannot win this fight alone. We enjoin all stakeholders to join us in this fight. The mobilization of every sector shall serve as a powerful catalyst in securing democracy and ensuring sustainable peace and progress,” concludes BGen Cruz. (Maj. EJCOsias IV, PA GC CRS-AFP/PIA)