Leftist groups have nothing to fear from AFP's DSSP 'Kapayapaan'

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 9): Leftist groups have nothing to fear from AFP's DSSP 'Kapayapaan'

Leftist groups, especially those desirous of genuine peace and development, have nothing to fear from Development Support and Security Plan (DSSP) "Kapayapaan," said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año.

"Kapayapaan" is the sequel of Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) "Bayanihan" which formally ended last Dec. 31, having been launched on Dec. 22, 2010.

"DSSP 'Kapayapaan' is the sequel of IPSP 'Bayanihan'. While the 'Bayanihan's strategic approach is the whole-of-nation approach that focused on security aspect, the DSSP 'Kapayapaan' identified and included the AFP' support to the challenges on governance, development and security," Año stressed.

He also said IPSP "Bayanihan" brought in good results as 71 out of the 76 provinces of the country are now peaceful and ready for further development.

"The strategic imperatives of Campaign Plan Kapayapaan includes the primacy of the peace process, with our roadmap for peaceful settlement to peace-inclined threat groups like CPP/NPA/NDF, MILF and MNLF in addition to IPSP 'Bayanihan's stakeholder's engagement, adherence to human rights, international humanitarian law and rule of law. The expanded purpose of DSSP "Kapayapaan" is linked with national vision and development plans of the national government," he added.

The AFP chief stressed that missions under DSSP "Kapayapaan" are purely to sustain the peace, ensure security and maintain public order.

He added that four strategic concepts of the latter are the following:

-Sustained military operation to defeat the foreign and local terrorist organizations;

-Contribute to the promotion of peace;

-Active support to law enforcement in war against drugs; and

-Contribute to nation building.

"The leftists have nothing to worry about. In fact, we expect them to cooperate with us so that we can work out the attainment of a permanent and lasting peace," Año said.

The AFP chief said that while DSSP "Kapayapaan" is focused on the primacy of the peace process, terror groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Maute Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines, and other lawless groups will feel the full brunt of the military's combat power.

"While we are addressing the ASG (threat and other lawless elements), we apply the full force of the AFP, in fact in the Western Mindanao Command area where the ASG and other terror groups (are known to be operating), 51 battalions are already deployed to (conduct focused military operations against them," he added.

Año said this is the biggest ever troop deployment for the AFP as they are making sure that the campaign against the ASG and other lawless and terror groups will be significantly defeated and their capabilities to wreak havoc or terror reduced to the very minimal.

He added efforts to combat these threats will be evaluated this coming June to determine whether the strategies being implemented against them are taking effect.

And when asked what initiatives the AFP are taking against these lawless and terror groups, Año said the military has intensified its intelligence operations and engagements with the local communities so local residents will report to authorities presence of suspicious-looking individuals in their respective areas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=953674