AFP’s new counter-insurgency plan eyes humanitarian missions By Mario J. Mallari 09/09/2010

AFP’s new counter-insurgency plan eyes humanitarian missions
By Mario J. Mallari
09/09/2010

Unlike previous counter-insurgency Oplan Bantay Laya II which was crafted solely by the military and was linked to numerous extra-judicial killings, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday vowed to come up with a new campaign plan heavy on civil military and other humanitarian missions.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said this is why the AFP leadership has opened its doors to all the stakeholders in the internal security situation, including militant groups like the Bayan Muna and Karapatan which were earlier tagged by the military as having links to the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

While he stressed that even Oplan Bantay Laya II contained mixture of intelligence, combat and civil-military operations, Mabanta said the new campaign plan will focus more on civil military operations.

“It focused on triad — a mixture of intelligence operation which is military operation and civil military operations…it will still focus on this triad which is helpful (but) this time priority will be given to civil military operations,” said Mabanta.

“It is with certainty that a big portion of CMO (civil military operation) will play a big factor in this campaign plan,” added Mabanta.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100909nat7.html