New WESCOM chief vows support for Palawan development

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 18): New WESCOM chief vows support for Palawan development

The new chief of the Western Command, Maj. Gen. Rustico O. Guerrero has pledged to double security efforts in Palawan to help the province achieve its development goals.

Guerrero, who replaced Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban as WESCOM commander last April 1, said in a statement he would continue focusing on the three major aspects of developmental support for the province - that of ensuring territorial integrity of the areas under the command's jurisdiction, enhancing disaster response management, and strengthening partnerships with the civil groups – “with a doubled military effort.”

"We will address the internal security concerns, we will continue to support the environmental groups and local government units' initiatives to sustain environmental protection efforts and, of course, we will find ways to further enhance disaster response in the province," Guerrero assured.

He said these tasks are not new to him, having served as PMC Commandant prior to his appointment as WESCOM chief because he has been undertaking the same in other parts of the country where he was assigned.

"We will put the right people on the ground and we will assure you that [the military] will continue working with the people of Palawan to achieve the purpose of our presence here [in the province]," the newly-installed WESCOM commanding general said.

Guerrero also said, he is not daunted by the challenges posed by limited resources that WESCOM has at its disposal because he believes the men and women of the different units under the Unified Command can augment its lack of physical assets.

The marine officer, however, stressed that “the cooperation of the local community is an essential factor in ensuring the success of the military's mission.”

He appeals to the public to observe the spirit of "Bayanihan" or communal volunteerism that is the core of the military's Internal Peace and Security Plan.

Guerrero previously served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Brigade and as Superintendent of the Marine Corps Training Center. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1981.

He finished his Masters of Military Study and Command and Staff College in Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, USA; took up Foreign Officers Tactical Intelligence Course in Queensland, Australia, and tactical, operational and strategic command courses in various military institutions in the country.

Prior to his assumption as commandant on August 24, 2010, he was the commander of the Joint Task Force Comet for almost one year in Sulu.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1421366171641