Lt. Gen. Deveraturda renders final salute to Western Command

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 13): Lt. Gen. Deveraturda renders final salute to Western Command

After dedicating eight months to serve as the highest ranking military officer in Palawan through the Western Command (WESCOM), Lieutenant General Roy Deveraturda handed over Wednesday the leadership of the provincial-based military command in a no-flair change of command.

With the end of his stint at WESCOM, Deveraturda will also retire from military service on August 17, this year, after serving the Filipino people for more than 35 years.

He will officially hang his uniform after a retirement ceremony is held in his honor on August 14 at Headquarters Philippine Air Force, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

During his tour of duty as commander of WESCOM from December 3, 2013 to August 11, Deveraturda steered the military’s direction in the province towards successfully reaching greater heights of excellence in the performance of its ever crucial mission of safeguarding and sustaining peace, order, and security in strategic island territories.

In the four mission areas of the WESCOM, Deveraturda demonstrated strong leadership and rallied its operational-controlled units into the accomplishment of its mandate.

Lt. Cherryl Tindog, in a release for the retiring general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said that on internal security and territorial defense operations, Deveraturda’s leadership gained significant accomplishments in the areas of Internal Security Operations (ISO) and Territorial Defense Operations (TDO).

“To further intensify and effectively carry out WESCOM’s ISO campaigns under the IPSP Bayanihan approach, Lt. Gen. Deveraturda sought to encourage, engage, and collaborate with various stakeholders in the province of Palawan in order to implement a multi-sectoral ‘whole-province’ approach in winning the peace over combat zones and engagement areas,” she said.

In December 2013, he created the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP), which aims to provide financial, livelihood, educational and training assistance to defectors and disillusioned members of the insurgent group New People’s Army (NPA), who wish to surrender to the fold of the law, reintegrate into society, and pursue peaceful, meaningful, and productive lives.

Conducted in partnership with the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Jose Alvarez, WESCOM’s LSIP became resounding success, and contributed “to a great extent,” in the weakening of the leftist forces in Palawan.

As of the first quarter of 2014, Tindog said, out of the 43 rebels in Palawan, 23 have already surrendered, if not captured. In the 1st Quarter of 2014 alone, a total of 14 insurgents were neutralized, out of the manpower strength of 43. The number is still moving up to date.

She added that the rebel forces’ strength and influence has “been reduced to insignificance and irrelevance,” largely because of the relentless efforts put forth by the WESCOM, which were strengthened by the active and overwhelming support from the provincial government, the Philippine National Police counterparts, and the local rural Palaweño population.

Hence, on June 30, 2014, the Western Command, the Palawan LGU, and the PPPO, together with the other partner institutions and organizations from the public and private sectors, gathered and consensually signed a joint manifesto declaring Palawan as a “Conflict Manageable Area” and a “Zone of Sustained Peace, Development and Prosperity.”

Accordingly, the Command has successfully turned over internal security concerns to the Palawan LGUs and the PPPO.

On the TDO, Deveraturda steered the Command on how to peacefully yet effectively respond to the challenges to our national security and territorial integrity, particularly with the increasing aggressiveness of the People’s Republic of China in the West Philippine Sea, she said.

“In particular instances, WESCOM had to conduct air-dropping and para-dropping of food provisions to several military detachments in the various island territories of the country, due to the blockades imposed by the Chinese ships on vessels contracted by its naval component,” Tindog added.

In the specific case of the Ayungin detachment, after the first blockade made by the Chinese Coast Guard ship, the Command was able to reportedly out-maneuver the former during its second obstruction attempt, thereby enabling to successfully re-supply and rotate troops in the said post.

“Under his command, we were able to pull off the seemingly impossible endeavor owing to the strong determination to accomplish its task without any interest in provoking conflict with the Chinese government, or increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea. Such display of competence and moral high ground was brought to the attention of the international community through the intervention of local and foreign media entities who joined in the re-supply mission,” Tindog further said.

The Command has painstakingly gathered and provided credible and meritorious evidences that were submitted by the Philippine government to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to strengthen our diplomatic protest against China’s encroachment of our national territory, particularly its intrusion into our territorial waters.

WESCOM furnished the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with reports and documentations obtained through a series of maritime and air patrols, and from intelligence gathered throughout the nine Philippine-held domains in the Kalayaan Group of Islands that strongly support the move for arbitration against China’s intrusion into the country’s geographical jurisdiction.

On humanitarian assistance and disaster response, under Deveraturda’s directive, WESCOM conducted various search and rescue operations, as well as participated in several local and international rescue and relief missions.

It took part in the international search for the Malaysian Airlines MH370 that went missing last March 2014; rescued and provided assistance to a number of distressed Filipino fishermen in Recto Bank in December 2013; and successfully performed a mission to locate and rescue a privately-owned Malaysian barge that was abandoned in the vicinity of Hasa-Hasa Shoal last June 2014.

Furthermore, through the Joint Task Force Bronco, the ill-fated Philippine Air Force’s OV-10 Bronco 330 was found after rigorous search efforts have been made. The remains of the two pilots were also recovered after a year of scouring of Palawan waters.

WESCOM has remained too, an active member and partner of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC). Because of the Command’s technical capabilities, personnel/troop competence, and its extensive experience in responding to actual and diverse rescue, relief, and emergency operations, it has now become a sought-after force performing actual DRRM activities all over the province.

Deveraturda also received courtesy visits from high-ranking foreign affairs and military officials of the United States of America, Japan, Canada, Australia, India, and Vietnam. The Command met with the leaders of these nations to discuss promising prospects and plans for strengthened, or revitalized military relations and bilateral partnerships.

The Command also participated in, and hosted various multilateral and bilateral military exercises in its AOR which included the Navy’s Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, Marine Corps’ Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) and Marine Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) Exercise, and the RP-US Exercise Balikatan 2014.

These joint and combined exercises enhanced the inter-operability between the Command and its allied forces during crisis situations, and in rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster response measures and initiatives.

Deveraturda will be replaced as commanding general of the WESCOM by Rear Adm. Alexander S. Lopez, whom, without a doubt, will continue to fully expand its wings to soar high, fearless of obstacles and limitless of heights.

Tindog said that with Lopez’ sterling credentials, solid experiences and reputable service background, WESCOM shall remain to be the formidable combined forces of air, land and sea that protects the beautiful province of Palawan and the West Philippine Sea.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=672218