An Assessment of Philippine Counterinsurgency Strategies: Why Has Communist Insurgency Continued to Exist in the Philippines?
Abstract
After more than five decades and despite several successes, the Philippines is still fighting a communist insurgency within its country. This study compared and analyzed four counterinsurgency campaign plans implemented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution: Oplan Lambat Bitag during the Corazon Aquino and Ramos administrations, Oplan Bantay-Laya during the Arroyo administration, the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan during the Benigno Aquino III administration, and the current Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan led by the Duterte administration. This study found that inadequate sustainment capability, lack of support from government institutions, and challenges to political leadership constitute the primary factors that have hindered the AFP campaigns. The current government recognizes these problems and has instituted several initiatives to overcome them, including a Community Support Program implemented by the AFP that increases intra-governmental collaboration, an enhanced partnership with civil society, and the creation of a national task force to help consolidate the diverse efforts of multiple national agencies, local government units, and civil society to improve security, good governance, and economic conditions and opportunities. Building on these, this thesis recommends further improvements to strengthen support for the current campaign and areas for future study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1151236
Entities
People
- Michael G. Yuson
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School