AFP, civil society groups form watchdog

MANILA, Philippines - The military and civil society groups have formed the “Bantay Bayanihan” program that will institutionalize the participation of civilian stakeholders in the country’s security planning.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said yesterday the Bantay Bayanihan would allow their civilian partners to participate in the drawing up of security policy.

“The group shall act as the AFP and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) partner that would provide concise policy recommendations with regard to the internal peace and security plan implementation, as well as on peace and conflict dynamics and security sector reform,” he said.

Burgos said Bantay Bayanihan would also serve as a venue where civilian stakeholders could discuss their concerns with security forces.

He said the dialogue would allow civilians to bring up the issues of local communities and to evaluate the security plan.

“We are confident that Bantay Bayanihan will definitely live up to its name. As our watchdog in the implementation of security plan Bayanihan (working together), we hope that Bantay Bayanihan will serve as a venue to discuss the security plan, human rights and international humanitarian law issues,” said AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.

“It is clear that safety and security is not only a concern of the security sectors but of everybody,” he added.

Bantay Bayanihan consists of civil society groups led by Jennifer Oreta of the Ateneo Political Science Department and various non-governmental organizations.

The military is represented in the group by the AFP deputy chief for operations, the deputy chief for intelligence, the deputy chief for civil-military operations, officials of the AFP Human Rights Office, Peace and Development Center, the Judge Advocate General’s Office, Civil Relations Service and National Development Support Command.