BB Brochure (PDF Version)

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What is Bantay Bayanihan?
The Bantay Bayanihan (BB) is a civil
society-led initiative creating an
oversight body over the armed
forces, including defense and security
policies (strategic, tactical, and
operational levels).
The Bantay Bayanihan is envisioned to
be a dialogue space that brings
together civil society organizations
(CSOs), the academe, civilian
government units with direct bearing
on conflict formation and peace
building, and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP).
Bantay Bayanihan Roadmap
VISION
Bantay
Bayanihan
is
a
strong,
independent, credible, and recognized
network of CSOs that constructively and
critically engages the security sector on
key reform issues to achieve a peaceful
and just society, especially for the
vulnerable and marginalized sectors.
Various Bantay Bayanihan Activities
MISSION
Bantay Bayanihan brings CSOs together to
strengthen the collective capacity to
engage by creating dialogue spaces,
building constituency and confidence,
monitoring of Internal Peace and Security
Plan (IPSP) - Bayanihan implementation,
and advocating for security policy reforms.
*As discussed during the 2nd Quarter National
Meeting last August 16, 2013
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“Only when a shared
concept of security
is formed can
responsibilities be
shared. “
- IPSP Bayanihan
Tracing BB’s Origins
Bantay Bayanihan (BB) was launched
last November 29, 2011 in order to
pursue two parallel objectives:
 To serve as an oversight body to
monitor the implementation of the
AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan
(IPSP) Bayanihan
 To serve as a dialogue space where
issues of peace and security (that
directly / indirectly involves the AFP,
PNP, and LGU) can be openly
discussed
Photos taken during (above and below) the SSR Forum
and BB National Meeting last July 2014 at Great Eastern
Hotel, Quezon City
During the signing of the Bantay Bayanihan Manifesto at
UP Hotel, Diliman, Quezon City
“Similar to the spirit of Bayanihan,
Bantay Bayanihan’s success is hinged on the
participation of relevant units concerned.”
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Roles and Functions of Bantay Bayanihan
 To serve as a venue/ direct channel between and among relevant units to
raise issues as regards the IPSP implementation, Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law issues, as well as peace and security concerns
and/or needs of local communities (e.g. rebel returnees, Payapa’t Masaganang
Pamayanan or PAMANA, Conditional Cash Transfer or CCT recipients,
strengthening of the peace and order councils or POCs, etc.)
 To conduct periodic evaluation and/or validate evaluation studies as regards
the implementation of the IPSP-Bayanihan
 To provide recommendations to the Chief of Staff (national level) /
Commanding General (unified command/ division/ brigade level) in the
implementation of the IPSP
 To generate concise policy recommendations as regards peace and conflict
dynamics, as well as security reforms, to be submitted/presented to respective
peace and order councils (local executive) and sanggunian (local legislative), as
well as to the national-level cabinet security cluster (executive) and Congress
(legislative)
 To promote BB to other potential partner stakeholders
 To catalyze, facilitate and most importantly, institutionalize the active
partnership of civil society groups and other security stakeholders in the
implementation of the IPSP Bayanihan
Source: BB Terms and Concepts of Reference, December 2, 2011
Photos taken during the Bantay Bayanihan Eastern Mindanao Cluster Meeting
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Why involve civil society?
“History’s pages abound with accounts of how we Filipinos have always sought—
and worked for—peace. Peace is indeed a continuous aspiration of the Filipino
people... We acknowledge that there remain structural issues that need to be
addressed and reforms that must be made. This is exactly what your government
sets out to do. However, the ills confronting our nation are multi-faceted and
complex. These can never be addressed through raising arms and wielding force
against our democratic way of life as a nation. In the same vein, we recognize that a
purely military solution will never be enough to adequately address these issues.
As peace and security is indivisible, efforts towards these must be shared by all. ..
This is why we are engaging all stakeholders in peace and security. It is only by
working together can we find creative solutions that work… I believe in the
Filipino’s capacity to bring
sustainable and meaningful peace and security to
our land. I shall lead our quest for peace and security. I call on the entire Filipino
citizenry to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. Let us join the AFP in translating this
national aspiration to reality.”
- His Excellency Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III
President, Republic of the Philippines
Message in IPSP Bayanihan
The participation of civil society groups and Civilian government agencies are also vital in
the academe in Bantay Bayanihan is crucial the Bantay Bayanihan because
because
 Civil society organizations (CSOs) help facilitate
the political participation of marginalized segments
of society. They have the capability to act as
enablers of human security and development.
 The academe helps frame the agenda, i.e. by
bringing the specific (sectoral/geographical) issues
within the broader discourse of development; and
translate the technical discussion to language
understandable by the broader public.
While Bantay Bayanihan is focused on the AFPIPSP plan, it will naturally highlight issues and
concerns regarding peace and conflict dynamics
in localities.
Indeed, the success of the initiative lies on the
strong engagement of civil society groups,
especially in the local-geographical areas.
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 People’s perception of deprivation and the
radicalization of dissent are largely influenced by
the limited government services in conflictaffected areas. Thus, a strong partnership
between the military and key service delivery
units can significantly help curve the level of
public dissatisfaction.
 A strong collaboration – especially on the
operational level between
the civilian
government and the military - can help
‘capacitate’ civilian units to handle local peace
and order problems (and reduce their reliance on
the military).
 A strong synergy in operations between the
military and civilian government units can
generate concise policy recommendations as
regards peace and conflict dynamics, as well as
identify the demands for security sector reforms
(SSR), on both local and national levels.
Areas of Concern of Bantay Bayanihan
 Human Rights / Int’l Humanitarian Law / Rule Of Law
- Performance of AFP troops in HR / IHL / ROL areas
Photos below are taken at (1) the BB
Leyte Quarterly Meeting, in Tarlac
(2) BB Samar-Leyte Activity and (3)
BB Pampanga Quarterly Dialogue
with AFP.
 Transparency and Accountability
- Monitoring the processes and systems to ensure that
violators are punished and good deeds are rewarded
 Participation
A. AFP engagement with civilian units / organizations,
e.g. Peace and Development Teams (Barangay) of the
battalion, brigade, and company units
B. Treatment and management of “former rebels”
 Peace and Conflict Dynamics
A. The “fuels” and “drivers” of conflict
B. Spoilers of peace
 Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Development
Addressing the institutional and policy gaps to create a
legal and social atmosphere that can contribute during
peace negotiations and in mitigating the cycle of
insurgency, impunity and under development
Source: Bantay Bayanihan Framing April 24-25, 2012
Photo above taken during the SSR Forum last July 9, 2014
at Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon City
Note:
The term “Bantay
Bayanihan” may be the
working name, but local
groups can rename their
group as they see fit.
What is crucial is to
appropriate the essence
or spirit of BB in forming
the network / dialogue
forum. In Lanao, we are
known
as
Bantay
Kalilintad (which means
“peace” in Maranao)
while we are Gabay
Bayanihan in Sulu.
Need for a Critical but Constructive Engagement
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Bantay Bayanihan activities
Bantay Bayanihan conducts activities that aim to mainstream Security Sector
Reform (SSR) among the AFP and PNP, as it strengthens the capacity of local
CSOs to conduct SSR civilian oversight.
 Border Management Services
 The Supporting Institutions —
Oversight Bodies such as Congress, justice
and penal systems, non-statutory security
forces, and civil society groups.
Security Sector Reform
Security Sector Reform (SSR) means
transforming the security sector/system “which includes all the actors, their roles,
responsibilities, and actions, working together
to manage and operate the system in a
manner that is more consistent with
democratic norms and sound principles of
good governance, and thus contributes to a
well-functioning security framework.”
The groups that form the Security Sector are:
 The Armed Forces
 The Police
 Intelligence
A core objective of SSR is to reform the
security sector institutions so that they are
transparent, respectful of rule of law and
human rights, and accountable to democratic
civilian authority, such as the parliament and
the justice system.
In this regard, SSR is an important component
of peace-building, democratization, and
development.
Dialogue Partners
Civil Society Organizations
 Non-government organizations (NGOs)
 Media
 Academe
Armed Forces of the Philippines



J3 (Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations)
J7 (Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military
Operations)
J2 (Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence)




CRS (Civil Relations Service)
HRO Rep (Human Rights Office)
JAGO (Judge Advocate General’s Office)
Peace and Development Center
Government Agencies
(whose services have bearing on Peace and Security Issues)







Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
Department of National Defense (DND)
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
*Note: List is not exhaustive It includes those in the list but may cover more.
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Bantay Bayanihan Areas
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Bantay Bayanihan Official Website:
www.bantaybayanihan.org
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