THIS IS a reaction to the letter (“True root causes of the insurgency,” Inquirer, 2/1/11) of Nardy Sabino, general secretary of the Promotion of Church People’s Response. Sabino and his group doubt and abhor Oplan Bayanihan.
We cannot please everybody, especially Sabino and the organization he belongs to. We cannot even blame them for having doubts about Oplan Bayanihan as everyone is always resistant to change. However, it is disheartening to know that Sabino has such a negative perception of Oplan Bayanihan when the project is the product of a series of consultations and intensive workshops with representatives from civil society groups, academe, civilian and government agencies and other stakeholders, particularly the Church.
Sabino is saying that “Oplan Bayanihan will just militarize the services that civilian authorities must deliver as a matter of responsibility to the public. It will not solve the root causes of the people’s resistance, it will instead exacerbate the people’s suffering.” How can he doubt the military’s efforts to deliver basic services and other “deliverables” other government agencies can’t do because of fear that they might be made NPA targets or because they can’t pass through danger areas? If Sabino thinks Oplan Bayanihan will exacerbate the people’s suffering, what does he recommend we do then?
The problem with Sabino and others like him is that they criticize the AFP and its projects without presenting a better solution. I challenge all those who claim to know the “true root causes of the insurgency” to present to the Filipino people their brilliant solutions. Who knows, they might yet really solve this decades-old insurgency?
The military has remained the bridge between the communities and our government. We took it upon ourselves to act as the catalyst for change because some government agencies are hesitant to attend to the needs of our hinterland communities threatened by the NPA. Our soldiers are gaining the higher ground in the communities with their development projects. It is only the CPP/NPA which fears that the government might “control the communities” through the Oplan Bayanihan, and the reason is clear: Oplan Bayanihan may eventually succeed in diminishing its power bases in the guerrilla zones.
The campaign to win the peace, rather than simply defeating the enemy, starts here and now, with Oplan Bayanihan. It is up to Sabino if he’s going to support or join this undertaking or remain where he is, closed to all possibilities of ending this insurgency. We have had enough violence. Let us try other peaceful means to solve the problem. Sabino claims he belongs to an organization for the promotion of church people’s response. Ironically he doesn’t see peaceful ways as a legitimate approach to ending insurgency. Is he representing a god-less ideology?
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
—COL. ANTONIO G PARLADE JR.,
Army spokesman/chief, Public Affairs,
Office of the Army Chief, Philippine Army
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