OPLAN Bayanihan, the military’s internal security program, will be replaced with Oplan Kapayapaan (peace).
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Aňo said the new name highlights the military’s new thrust of enhancing nation-building and countryside development in relation to the peace policy of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Activists, Lumad groups and the Communist Party of the Philippines have accused the military of human rights abuses, killing and hamletting of villages in the countrysides under the Oplan Bayanihan banner.
They claimed that Bayanihan is just another term for militarization.
In a separate interview, Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said one of the main purposes of Kapayapaan is “to defeat terrorists the deter the ‘peace spoilers’ then contribute in promoting peace.”
He said the military has a marching order to extinguish the Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Maute group, Al- Kihilafah Philippines (AKP) and Jemaiah Islamiyah.
In the same vein, the AFP will continue to support the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as well as the CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front.
“The AFP will actively support the law enforcement operation then it will contribute to peace by supporting civil agencies in the delivery of basic services,” he explained.
“All the operation of the AFP should be harmonized with the development and (good) governance efforts of the different stakeholders,” he added.
The main difference, he explained, is that Bayanihan was aimed at “winning the peace,” while Kapayapaan is to “sustain the peace.”
The Peace and Development Outreach Program of the AFP will now be called as the Community Support Program.
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