The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has dubbed its new counter-insurgency campaign
plan as “Bayanihan” which is people-centered and focused more on the whole-nation
approach to finally end the decades-long communist insurgency problem in the country.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David said he is ready to submit to President
Benigno Aquino III the blueprints of the said strategy, dubbed as Oplan Bayanihan.
Armed Forces spokesman, Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., said Sunday that Oplan Bayanihan
employs a two-pronged approach to solve the 40-year-old armed conflict, replacing Oplan
Bantay Laya which was launched in 2002 by the Arroyo administration.
“Just like in the past, its mission statement is winning the peace, which hinges on two very
important approaches—the ‘whole of nation’ approach in contrast to the former ‘whole of
government approach,’” he explained.
The date of formal launch of the said strategy was set concurrently with the celebration of
the Armed Force’s 75th founding anniversary on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Camp
Aguinaldo. (PIA)
