WESCOM one of the most important units of AFP – Defense Secretary Gazmin

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 13): WESCOM one of the most important units of AFP – Defense Secretary Gazmin

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Western Command (WESCOM) in Palawan is one of the most important units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as he attended its change of command Wednesday with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

This he said as he avoided answering media inquiries on reports claiming that the People’s Republic of China has already constructed lighthouses on several islands it is claiming in the contested West Philippines Sea (WPS).

The defense chief focused instead on the passing of the leadership of WESCOM between retiring Philippine Air Force (PAF) Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda and incoming Rear Adm. Alexander Lopez of the Philippine Navy (PN).

“WESCOM plays an important role in the challenge of safekeeping our territory that’s why I want to be here to see the passing on of leadership,” he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and other members of the press covering the change of command Wednesday.

Gazmin said that with the latest incident in the WPS, where local government unit (LGU) officials of Kalayaan municipality reported they were harassed August 1 by a large Chinese Coast Guard patrol ship on their way to bring food supplies to Philippine troops in Ayungin Shoal, the challenge of defending the country’s claimed territory in the area is not neglected but is taken care of as diplomatically as possible.

“Well, we are being challenged in protecting our territory that is why the WESCOM is a vital unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines here,” he said.

On China’s construction of lighthouses, Gazmin said they have been informed about it, and the task of clarifying the latest development is now with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“Right now, the DFA is looking into that, looking into where these lighthouses are. We have not determined this yet, so, I cannot comment on it,” he said, refusing to elaborate.

The Defense chief added that from Deveraturda, he is hoping that Lopez’s leadership of WESCOM would be also be successful in the country’s goals involving the WPS, as well as in supporting provincial efforts against environment abuses, illegal border incursions, insurgency, and also help in the delivery of basic services to the people.

Lopez, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Batch 82, became known after leading the search and rescue for the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jessie Robredo, who went missing in a plane crash in 2012 in Masbate.

He was also the commander of the Joint Task Force Malampaya (JTFM) from 2011 to 2012.

In his acceptance message, Lopez said that although the AFP’s force can be considered small compared to other countries, the soldiers, and the other men and women, who serve under it, are all dedicated in defending the sovereignty of the Philippines.

The new WESCOM chief assured that he shall do his best for WESCOM to become a responsible partner of the provincial government and other LGUs in efforts to protect the terrestrial and marine environments of the Palawan against abuses that could denigrate them.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=672415