WESCOM-Palawan welcomes back on-rotation troops from Kalayaan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 22): WESCOM-Palawan welcomes back on-rotation troops from Kalayaan

Lieutenant General Roy Deveraturda, commander of the Western Command (WESCOM) in Palawan led Monday the ceremony that welcomed back troops assigned in the disputed West Philippines Sea (WPS) for five months at the Philippine Navy Tide Pole in this city.

Deveraturda and other ranking WESCOM officials welcomed back a number of troops stationed in Kalayaan to take care of eight detachments located in the islands of Panata, Likas, Rizal Reef, Parola, Lawak, Pag-Asa, Kota, and Patag – all in the contested region.

He said troops, who are staying on a navy vessel in Ayungin Shoal are not included in the group that has returned to mainland Palawan.

The WESCOM commander said the troops are back for the first time in five months, and they were ferried to Puerto Princesa by BRP 550.

In his message, Deveraturda lauded the troops, whose number he will not say for security purposes, and told them that the Welcome Ceremony is the country’s way of saying it is proud of them for accepting the special task to take care of its territories off in the WPS.

He told the returning troops that they should not think their sacrifices have not paid off because they did.

Deveraturda, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) following the ceremony, said that to be deployed in detachments far away from their families to safeguard the country’s claim, “is honorable and laudable,” and for this reason, the troops “are heroes.”

“It’s not easy to be deployed there because a far place can be very sad away from families. But as soldiers, they gladly did it,” he said, adding it is more than a responsibility accorded by their jobs to make sure that the Philippines 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is safe.

“Under international law, the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone is for Filipinos, and we, your soldiers, have sworn to serve the country for you. We are ready to do that, to serve the country, and even lose our lives just to serve the Filipino people,” he said.

Giving the welcome ceremony, he added, will continue for troops on-rotation in the West Philippines Sea – a small token for a happy return.

The troops will be given more than two weeks of vacation to be reunited with their families, as well additional allowances so they may enjoy their much-needed respite.

A new batch of troops will also be sent to the Kalayaan Group of Islands, but he did not say when they will leave.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=664933