THE Armed Forces of the Philippines launched on Friday its Development Support and Security Plan “Kapayapaan” to replace Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” which expired last Dec. 31.
Under the new security plan, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año said the top priority of the AFP will be the destruction of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other foreign and local terrorist groups.
Año unveiled the new plan during the Department of National Defense’s First Quarter Command Conference at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“Apart from the conduct of focused combat operations employing the wherewithals of the AFP, I desire that we enhance stakeholder engagement to ensure robust participation of the religious sector and local government,” Año said.
“From our end, I want everyone here to exercise the highest degree of Commandership. After all, the most important element of combat power is Leadership. Do and give your best and together we will create a winning team and get the job done,” he added.
“We will give priority to frontline units in the assignment of the best Officers, Enlisted Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines— our most important resource. And as such, we must take care of them. While we endeavor to give them the fighting edge, it is as essential that we increase their survivability rate,” Año stressed.
“We will, as we must, look at the welfare of our men—and loved ones—especially those who were combat casualties. Expedite the processing of the benefits due them; streamline the process and rationalize the requirements for promotion, schooling, and awards as well was disposition of cases,” the AFP chief added.
Año said the AFP will be fully committed to the primacy of the peace process guided by the President Rodrigo Duterte’s roadmap to peace.
The military will support fully the government’s war on drugs and shall extend full support to the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies both in terms of personnel and intelligence.
“Finally, I say there is no letter ‘I’ in the word ‘TEAM.’ We shall all aspire for the collective accomplishment above individual fulfillment. Again, I urge the men and women of the AFP to work with me as we continue our journey together with our actions embed with the AFP Core Values of Honor, Service, and Patriotism,” Año said.
The AFP launched IPSP Bayanihan in 2010 and aimed to focus on “non-combat” operations to “win the peace.”
