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
