Genuine military reform needed to fight insurgency, risk consultant says

CEBU, Philippines - Genuine military reform including measures against corruption is needed to address insurgency that poses threat to the Philippines, a multinational risk consultancy said.

In a report issued to its clients last Jan. 9, the Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) said “considerable political will” is necessary to undertake the reforms.

“What is more pressing in addressing these insurgencies is genuine military reform, aiming to professionalize the service and instituting anti-corruption mechanisms,” PSA, whose clients include embassies and multinational firms, said.

“Because change runs against the grain of deeply entrenched institutionalized wrongdoing, any serious military reform in the Philippines requires considerable political will,” it added.

PSA said President Aquino had directed the military to focus on external threats, as the government believes that it has made significant achievements against internal threats.

PSA, however, said the government’s pronouncements at the national level “are often characterized by a gaping disconnect with grassroots realities.”

“Neither festering insurgency has been emasculated and lasting peace agreements with insurgent groups in the Philippines will require serious effort and dedication between contending sides,” the report reads.

“As it is, peace negotiations have been postponed, reset, and delayed numerous times, effectively halting any gained momentum,” it added.

PSA said that while the armed forces are channeling resources to address external threats, internal security concerns pose more risks to the Philippines than territorial defense.

“The threat posed by the entry of the new Muslim separatist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the self-perpetuating Islamic terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group serves as a reminder that internal security threats pose a greater risk for the Philippines than territorial boundary protection,” it said.

“It is worth noting that while there have been periodic tensions in the SCS (South China Sea) over the years, there has never been a multilateral military conflict over the disputed territory,” it added.

PSA noted that there has never been a multilateral armed conflict over disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“The likelihood of a full blown regional war in the SCS in the foreseeable future remains very remote. China may be aggressive in its territorial claims, but has always tempered its force projection moves in the region,” it said.

The Department of National Defense (DND) plans to restructure the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to allot resources to improve territorial defense.

Army infantry battalions would be cut to 81 this year from 85 in 2011. The number of active duty battalions would be reduced gradually in the succeeding years until it reaches 54 in 2018.

Marine battalions would also be slashed to 10 this year, from 12 last year. Only nine marine battalions would be retained in 2013.