Army's 5ID commander vows to involve stakeholders in preserving peace and security for development

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 5): Army's 5ID commander vows to involve stakeholders in preserving peace and security for development

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, GAMU, ISABELA -- The newly-installed army division commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, vowed to involve all stakeholders to maintain and preserve peace and security in its area of operations.

Major General Benito Antonio De Leon made the pledge during the turn over of command inside the Camp here on Friday, April 4, 2014.

De Leon said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) – Bayanihan will be his guide in the maintenance of peace and security in the area of operations of the 5th Infantry Division.

He said there are three operational guides to maintain peace and security under the IPSP as follows: conduct focused military operations to ensure that only the armed threat groups are the targets, and to do so, the military must always uphold and protect the rights of the citizenry as enshrined in the constitution by following the established rules of engagement and adhering to human rights, the international humanitarian law and the rule of law.

De Leon said the second guide is to pursue intensified stakeholders engagement by securing, building and supporting appropriate cooperative and collaborative arrangement with counterpart sectors to best attain mission or help attain the respective mandates and objectives by regularly attending to peace and order councils, actively engaging the media and establishment of PNP-AFP action centers.

He said the third is the conduct of peace and development activities that involve community impact projects or help prepare and secure the area for development to take place.

The turn over of command was attended by military and police officials, local officials and other government agencies from Cordillera Administrative Region and Region 2.

De Leon vowed to cooperate with all stakeholders in two regions to pursue peace and development efforts of the government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=632807