The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command (AFP-CentCom) plans to handover to local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental the implementation of the military’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) this year.
The handover will be a sharing of responsibility among the military, LGUs, local police and other concerned stakeholders for peace and development.
The CentCom clarified that the handover does not mean the military will totally abandon their duty in clearing Negros Oriental from insurgency problems.
CentCom commander, Maj. Gen. John Bonafos said in a press conference in Camp Leon Kilat in
This is in line with the military’s aim to prepare the local government in resolving insurgency problems and declaring Negros Oriental insurgency free within the year.
Once the handover is made, the army and the police will be under the authority of the governor who will lead the implementation of IPSP in the province. The military will come in as support agency in maintaining peace and order.
“It is our job to maintain peace and order in our area with the help of our police as well as other stakeholders in peace and security including local government officials and local chief executives of the province,” Gen. Banafos said as he met soldiers in Camp Leon Kilat.
Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major General Aurelio Baladad also believes the plan to handover the IPSP to LGUs is a good approach to resolve problems in insurgency.
“Insurgency is everybody’s responsibility because it is multi-faceted. There are social dimensions, economic dimension, political and other dimensions and we have to address all these to resolve the problem,” Gen. Baladad said.
Baladad said that the military will work hand in hand with other stakeholders in resolving other concerns linked with insurgency.
Gen. Banafos cited the province of Bohol as a model for the scheme. He said Bohol was cleared from insurgency because of active leadership of its provincial government in its internal security plan in partnership with the police, military and other stakeholders.
Philippine Army-302nd Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier Gen. Francisco Patrimonio disclosed that right now the military is slowly coordinating with LGUs in preparing them for the handover of internal peace and security responsibility.
Patrimonio added that LGUs are very responsive to their incoming role. However, he dismissed the idea that the army will leave their area of responsibility once it is cleared from insurgents.
Patrimonio said that they learned their lesson that once they cleared the area and leave it, it becomes vulnerable again to insurgency activities.
Also, the Philippine Army promised to train law enforcers in maintaining peace and order in their areas.
“We have made some contingencies that the military should still support the LGUs in maintaining peace while we are still preparing the Philippine National Police and other indigenous forces to have an extended role in maintaining peace and order in their municipalities,” Gen. Patrimonio said.
The Philippine Army also set to conduct trainings with the police to enhance their capability to respond to insurgencies.
Banafos also said that there is Comprehensive Integrated Public Safety System (CIPSS), a program laid by the Department of Interior and Local Governance which will intensify the campaign against insurgency.
Banafos hopes that through collective efforts from various agencies, the province will be totally free from insurgency and development can penetrate in areas with rebel presence.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2631390813053
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