AFP’s ‘Bayanihan’ up for review

By Jimmyley I. Guzman

Tuesday 29th of May 2012

QUEZON CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is set to present the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan’s first year assessment in a two-day conference at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) in Quezon City on May 30 and 31.

In a release posted in its website, the AFP through the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 will be supporting the activity, which will be managed and hosted by the ADMU Department of Political Science-Working Group on Security Sector Reform (SSR).

Dubbed “Addressing Armed Conflicts through Collaborative Efforts: Focus on the IPSP Bayanihan,” the activity is aimed at assessing how different security stakeholders appreciate the IPSP Bayanihan and hopes to bring together local and national government units as well as civil society groups to look into the efforts of the military.

The two-day event also aims to discuss the successful interventions, challenges, spaces of engagements and remaining things to be done to finally convince the armed groups to abandon their violent means to institute change.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Jessie D. Dellosa said the activity will be another opportunity for the AFP to put into practice its whole-of-nation and multi-stakeholder approach of winning the peace as embodied in the IPSP Bayanihan.

“With the concerted efforts of the civil society organizations, the academe, and civilian government units to monitor and assist us in implementing the IPSP, we will be guided and therefore we will be better and more efficient implementers of the people-centered principles of Bayanihan,” said Dellosa.

Top military and security officials will discuss the following: Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will discuss about locating the IPSP in the Defense Transformation; National Security Adviser, Sec. Cesar Garcia on Locating the IPSP in the National Security Plan; Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita Deles will talk about the Relevance of the IPSP in the Peace Process; Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on the Role of the AFP in the Local Government’s Security Plan; and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Dir. Gen. Nicanor Bartolome will discuss the Law Enforcement and Internal Security Operations.

Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Commanding General of the Philippine Army is also invited to present an overview of the IPSP Bayanihan while MGen. Romeo Calizo, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, AFP is tasked to state the IPSP First Year Assessment.

Meanwhile, the managing head of the conference, Jennifer Santiago Oreta of the ADMU Department of Political Science – Working Group on SSR also led the AFP’s IPSP Watchdog, named “Bantay Bayanihan.”

Conceptualized in September 2011, the creation of Bantay Bayanihan started with the initiative of the civil society organization that serves as a link between civil society and the AFP.

It also serves as an alternative forum, with respect to the Peace and Order Councils and Regional Development Councils.

The BB is envisioned to be a dialogue space that brings together civil society organization, the academe, civilian government units whose services have direct bearing on conflict formation and peace building, and the AFP. It highlights issues and concerns regarding peace and conflict dynamics in localities.

Specifically, it aims to help create a positive atmosphere for the on-going peace talks; create a “dialogue space” for security stakeholders to begin the discussion on the security sector reform and development, both in the local and national levels; and serve as venue where critical security and development issues are raised into open public debate and to the attention of policy makers. (AFP/RJB/JEG-PIA NCR)