AFP’s Oplan Bayanihan fails to meet target

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 28): AFP’s Oplan Bayanihan fails to meet target

The military’s internal peace and security plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan,” designed to render the insurgency problem to irrelevant level by 2016, has failed to curb the armed strength of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), three years after it was launched.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said that based on latest assessment, the NPA strength is estimated at “4,000 plus more or less.”

When IPSP “Bayanihan” was launched by the AFP in 2011, the NPA strength was placed at more than 4,000. It was designed to defeat insurgency by 2016.

IPSP “Bayanihan” is a brainchild of former AFP chief and now executive director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista.

Catapang said that based on latest assessment, there are places where the number of NPA rebels are dwindling while in some areas they are growing.

The AFP chief said that the military has adopted new system in determining the exact strength of the communist forces.

“We are accounting, zero-based accounting…anyway, in December, we will give the final figures,” Catapang said.

Catapang, however, maintained that the non-significant change in the armed strength of the NPAs is not blamed on the failure of the military in addressing insurgency problem.

“It’s too early to tell that,” Catapang said.

In a statement earlier, AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan claimed that IPSP “Bayanihan” has not only remained on-track but led to significant gains on the part of the government.

“The IPSP Bayanihan has not only remained on track but has brought significant gains in the past year particularly in addressing communist insurgency. Through successful internal peace and security operations, more NPA rebels are now surrendering to the government fold and their influence and mass-base support continue to wane,” Tutaan said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/afp-s-oplan-bayanihan-fails-to-meet-target