Aying to keep winning peace

From the Visayan Daily Star (Nov 25): Aying to keep winning peace

The “Winning the Peace Framework” project implemented in Negros Occidental four years ago,will now be expandedto other regions of the Visayas, under the jurisdiction of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division.

This was implemented by Brig. Gen. Jon Aying, newly-installed acting commander of the 3rd Infantry Divisionin 2012, while he was the commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade.

“I believe that we have to do the same since this framework is founded on the concept of the Filipino tradition of ‘Bayanihan' or ‘a people-centered, wholenation approach,” Aying said.

The 3ID areas of operations cover the Negros Island Region, Western and Central Visayas.

The winning the Peace program of Aying, involves the security and development sectors, as well as stakeholders, composed of local government units, national government agencies, religious, civil society, business sectors and the academe, among others.

It aims to promote public safety and socio-political stability.

In promoting internal socio-political stability, Aying said the first need is to protect affected communities from lawlessness, render armed struggle irrelevant, and to mainstream the affected communities towards nation building.

“Based on these goals, we in the security and development sectors together shall perform our collective roles as protectors of the people, peacebuilders and social workers,” he added.

These goals shall be achieved through what Aying calls the Seven Angels of Change, that include peace process and peacebuilding activities, security sector reform initiatives; law enforcement and legitimate use of force when need; integrated community defense and public safety system; rule of law and legal cooperation; grassroots community development through Bayanihan Team activities; and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program with HADR as its Centerpiece, Aying said.

“In peacebuilding, we must carry out the statement of the President, and I quote, ‘Stop the Hatred', which aims to transform the culture of violence to a culture of peace, and to win the hearts and minds of those with valid grievances and retain the allegiance of the rest of the citizenry,” he added.

This framework and program will allow us to pursue initiatives that fit into the unique conditions, potentialities and capacities, and culture of Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Guimaras and Siquijor, towards a more secure community and prosperous quality of life, Aying added.

“In the last six years, we all worked together under the spirit of “Bayanihan” and so much change were accomplished. I believe that we just have to continue with it, especially that we now have a new President emphasizing a new type of change”. I enjoin everyone therefore, to further invigorate our Bayanihan spirit and undertakings to further strengthen governance, development and security through a development-led internal security program, Aying said.

Before assuming his new position, Aying had served as Intelligence and Operations of Task Force Panay, commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion, 3ID Intelligence chief, and later as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade,all under the 3ID.

Aying was installed yesterday as 3ID acting commander by Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano in a ceremony held at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.

He replaced Maj. Gen. Harold Cabreros, who was recently designated as vice commander of the Philippine Army.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/November/25/topstory6.htm