Philippine Counterinsurgency Strategy: Then and Now (original) (raw)

Redefining domestic counterinsurgency post-2001: Sulu Province, Republic of Philippines

2010

The closure of the U.S. Military Bases in the Philippines in 2001 created a vacuum in regional defence both for the Philippines and the U.S. The U.S. lost its only South-East Asian military base, and the Philippine National Administration lost substantial foreign military aid which had been vital in helping it contain domestic insurgency, which for the most part was Muslim in nature. After the terrorist events in the U.S. in September 2001, the Philippine National Administration of President Gloria Arroyo established closer military cooperation with the George W. Bush Administration. However, to receive increased U.S. military aid President Arroyo had to be 'seen' to be containing or confronting Muslim insurgency/terrorism in her country. In other words, domestic counterinsurgency had to be redefined and readdressed. This thesis examines the methods, and rationale, the Arroyo Administration has been using to confront insurgency in the Philippines, particularly in the provinc...

Strengths and weaknesses of counter-Islamic-insurgency programs in the Philippines

The Philippines have seen some of the deadliest and most persistent armed insurgencies in Asia. The government’s counter-insurgency programs, mainly started under the Marcos administration in the 1960s, have faced tremendous challenges from various Islamic insurgent groups, namely the MNLF, MILF and the ASG (Abu Sayyaf). This thesis examines the major strengths and weaknesses of the government’s counter-insurgent policies from the 1960s to the present day. It will first explore its weaknesses: the problem of legitimacy of the government in the eyes of the Filipino Muslims due to its historical colonial legacies and its inability to safeguard Muslim communities from socio-economic backwardness and violent outbreaks which have repeatedly jeopardized the government’s efforts. The essay will then examine the strengths and prospects of the counter-insurgent strategies by looking at the consistency the government’s goal over the decades as well as its ability to win over numerous insurgents and the importance of exploiting the divisions among the groups.

Losing by winning: America's challenge waging counterinsurgency warfare - A Case Study Analysis of the American Experience with Counterinsurgency Warfare in the Philippine American, Vietnam and Iraq Wars

2014

Losing By Winning: America’s Challenge Waging Counterinsurgency Warfare is an analytical study of America’s experience waging counterinsurgency warfare in the PhilippineAmerican, Vietnam and Iraq Wars. In each war, counterinsurgency warfare was applied to achieve the strategic objectives of American Foreign Policy as outlined by the President of the United States at the outset of each war. Initially, large swaths of the American electorate and political class favored achieving the strategic objectives of each war studied. Over time, as counterinsurgency tactics were put to use, and made headway towards achieving the strategic objectives of the conflict, public support for each war precipitously declined over time and either jeopardized the ability of the United States to complete its counterinsurgency campaign or lose them altogether. This occurred because images of atrocities and perceptions of violations of the laws of warfare (both real or imagined) were formed in the minds of Am...

Philippine Counterinsurgency during the Presidencies of Magsaysay, Marcos, and Ramos: Challenges and Opportunities

2016

: Communist insurgency had been a national security problem of the Philippines since the American colonial period. When the Philippines earned their independence in 1945, communist insurgency rapidly grew in Luzon due to the Philippines worsening condition caused by the aftermath of Second World War and political instability. In the early 1950s, the communist insurgents would have succeeded in taking power but Ramon Magsaysay was appointed as Secretary of Defense. In 1955, Magsaysay became president and defeated the communist insurgents. In 1969, a new Maoist-inspired communist insurgency prevailed replacing the old Soviet model. President Marcos declared martial law to stop the growing communism and transformed the democratic system into a new Philippine society in 1972. In a decade, the Philippine economy collapsed and corruption in government became worse while the communist insurgency grew in an unprecedented heights. Marcos was unseated by a People Revolution and democracy was ...

Wingert, Randall- Essential Elements for a Successful Counterinsurgency Operation

2020

With continued expenditure of resources in counterinsurgent operations, there is need to determine the elements that bring about success. There is prevailing evidence of long-lasting conflicts whose issues lie with the lack of proper planning and analysis. This paper sought to identify ways in which counterinsurgency operations could be strengthened in light of changing tactics by insurgents. Using a qualitative research design based on literature review of insurgent conflicts around the world, it found that insurgencies cannot outlast governments and local security forces need to be at the forefront of any counterinsurgency operations. Additionally, it found that it was important to plan adequately over the targeted end goals prior to engaging in the conflict. In this way, the counterinsurgency would have a high chance of success. The research reviewed various insurgencies and found that incidents where the insurgents won mostly involved the latter reducing the legitimacy of the government and winning the support of the population. Therefore, the research has added to the body of knowledge on counterinsurgency operations. Keywords: insurgency, counterinsurgency, COIN, government, conflict, intelligence.