THE United States is not satisfied with how the Philippines military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) conduct their campaigns against lawless groups under the country’s counterterrorism operations, which are being actively supported by the US government.
The view of the US government on the country’s efforts was reflected in its country report on counterterrorism released by the US Department of State on April 30.
For one, the state department’s report noted that the IPSP Bayanihan, the campaign program of the military against the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), was ineffective.
The counterinsurgency program, which covers the whole term of the Aquino administration, was crafted during the term of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Emmanuel Bautista as deputy chief of staff for operations of the military.
Bautista was the most ardent supporter of the campaign plan, which is on its way to missing its objective of clearing the country of guerrillas as shown by the successive and brazen attacks that the rebels carried out against their targets, which included municipal halls and police stations, around the country during the past weeks.
“The government of the Philippines continued to implement its 2011-2016 Internal Peace and Security Plan that calls for the transition of internal- security functions from the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] to the PNP,” the report noted.
The increasing role and capability of the police to maintain internal security in conflict-affected areas will permit the AFP to shift its focus to enhancing the country’s maritime security and territorial defense capabilities. To date, however, this transition has been slow and ineffective,” it added.
Some military officers said that because Bautista is much younger than his area commanders, he could not give orders to his senior commanders, including for them to sustain the operational tempo, not only against the NPA, but even against the other groups, thus making him a “lame duck” chief of staff.
The US state department’s report said corruption in the police and even in the judiciary was among the reasons frustrating the country’s counterterrorism efforts.
The problem was even worsened by the lack of personnel, the report said.
“An underresourced and understaffed law enforcement and judicial system, coupled with widespread official corruption, resulted in limited domestic investigations, unexecuted arrest warrants, few prosecutions and lengthy trials of cases,” the report said.
“Philippines investigators and prosecutors lacked necessary tools to build strong cases, such as clear processes for requesting judicially authorized interception of terrorist communications; entering into plea bargains with key witnesses; and seizing assets of those suspected in benefiting from terrorism,” it added.
Still, the US said it would continue to work and assist the country in its efforts to combat terrorism, as it will remain an “important partner” in the US Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance program.
The program includes giving extensive tactical training to PNP officers, including Special Action Force members, “to support the transition in southern Philippines from military to civilian counterterrorism authority.”
Meanwhile, Malacañang on Sunday allayed the concern of former Sen. Joker Arroyo that the Palace-backed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) with the US skirted the constitutional ban on foreign military bases here except under a new treaty.
“We respect the views of Senator Arroyo and other leaders on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,” Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said over Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma said that consistent with President Aquino’s guidelines, the Edca included key features assuring compliance with the Constitution’s provisions on the issue of foreign military presence in the country.
These, he said, include a “clear provision that the US would not establish a permanent military presence or base in the Philippines.”
“US access to and use of designated areas in Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP]-owned and –controlled facilities [also called ‘agreed locations’] will be at the invitation of the Philippines government,” he said.
Coloma said it also requires prior consent of the Philippines through the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board with regard to US access and use of such “agreed locations,” referring to existing Philippines military bases that may accommodate US forces, subject to implementing arrangements.
The Palace official also cited the Philippines’s retention of primary responsibility for security of the agreed locations, as well as full access of the AFP base commander to the entire area of the agreed locations.
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