Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Eduardo Año said leftist groups have nothing to fear about the military's new campaign plan, the Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan, which replaced the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan.

Año said the the DSSP Kapayapaan, unveiled during a command conference last Friday, is about supporting the government's peace initiatives with the Left and with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front.

"The strategic imperatives of campaign plan Kapayapaan includes the primacy of the peace process," Año said, adding that this also puts emphasis on the respect for human rights, international humanitarian law and rule of law.

The CPP/NPA/NDF and its allied leftist organizations had blamed the IPSP Bayanihan for various atrocities, including extra-judicial killings of leftist personalities throughout the country.

The military chief said the 6-year IPSP Bayanihan, which lapsed last December 31, has led to the declaration of 71 provinces as peaceful and ready for further development.

"The type of missions that will be conducted in Kapayapaan are to sustain the peace, ensure security and maintain public order," he said.

Año also reiterated the four strategic concepts of DSSP Kapayapaan which are:

- sustained military operations to defeat the foreign and local terrorist organizations;
- contribute to the promotion of peace;
- active support to law enforcement in war against drugs; and,
- contribute to nation-building.

Año, who the leftist blamed for past atrocities against the Left, said he expects communist organizations to support the new military campaign plan.

"The leftists have nothing to worry about. In fact, we expect them to cooperate with us so that we can work out the attainment of a permanent and lasting peace," the AFP chief said.

"Our focus is to defeat terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, foreign and terrorist groups and how we can contribute to nation-building. We are also supporting the PNP and other law enforcements on the war on drugs," he added.

Asked if the DSSP Kapayapaan is combat-heavy unlike the IPSP Bayanihan which called for more development initiatives, Año said: "All ingredients are there. When we are addressing the Abu Sayyaf, we apply the full force of the Armed Forces."