After Yolanda, general takes on the Spratlys challenge

From Rappler (Dec 3): After Yolanda, general takes on the Spratlys challenge

NEW POST: Lieutenant General Roy Deveraturda takes over Western Command. Photo from the Armed Forces of the Philippines

For Lieutenant General Roy Deveraturda, November 8 was really going to be a big day. He was going to turn over command of the Cebu-based Central Command (Centcom) to another general and transfer to a more challenging post as chief of the Western Command (Wescom) in Palawan.

The turnover ceremony was postponed because typhoon Yolanda made landfall that day. Deveraturda found himself on top of a huge military operation involving foreign troops and assets, that responded to the aftermath of the strongest typhoon recorded. Centcom commands all military troops and assets based in the Visayas region.

On Tuesday, December 3, almost a month after Yolanda struck Centcom areas, the turnover ceremony finally pushed through.

Deveraturda took over as chief of Wescom on Tuesday. His predecessor, Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero, assumed his new post as chief of the Zamboanga-City based Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) on November 9. (READ: Reshuffle in key AFP posts)

Deveraturda's new command oversees Palawan, part of Sulu Sea, and the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) including the Kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratlys). The West Philippine Sea is a territory where 6 countries including the Philippines and China having overlapping claims.

On Monday, December 2, Major General Bonafos replaced Deveraturda as chief of Centcom which will continue to play a big role in the rehabilitation of the Yolanda-devastated provinces in the Visayas.

External defense

"Let it be stressed that the Western Command serves as the forefront of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in safeguarding our interests in the vastness of Palawan and Kalayaan Group of Islands," Deveraturda said in his assumption speech.

Deveraturda, an attack and instructor pilot, is a graduate of the Philippine Air Force Flying School of 1980.

AFP chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista earlier said Deveraturda is the man for the job because of his former post as AFP deputy chief for plans and programs.

"We will review the way we do things. We will review operations and how we conduct our security patrols here in the mainland and in the west and east side [of Palawan island]," Deveraturda said.

Deveraturda said it's time for the AFP to focus on external security operations. He said the Philippines will continue to approach "with peaceful means" the tension in the West Philippine Sea.

Beyond the West Philippine Sea, Deveraturda said his task includes guarding the Malampaya Natural Gas Project; promoting peace, development and tourism of the entire Palawan province; and improving the humanitarian assistance and disaster response capability of the province.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/45150-deveraturda-western-command