Lorenzana lauds JTF-Sulu efforts to enhance troops’ capability

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 20, 2021): Lorenzana lauds JTF-Sulu efforts to enhance troops’ capability (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

DEFENSE CHIEF'S VISIT. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (in blue polo) lauds the Joint Task Force Sulu in its efforts to further enhance the capability of its troops as he and other top military officials grace Friday afternoon (Feb. 19, 2021) the closing ceremony of the week-long joint training exercise dubbed as Lupah Sug 01-2021. The training aims to enhance the interoperability among the various units of the Armed Forces. (Photo courtesy of Joint Task Force Sulu Public Information Office)

National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has lauded the efforts of the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu to enhance the capability of its operating troops.

In a statement Saturday, the JTF-Sulu said Lorenzana witnessed Friday afternoon the closing ceremony of the week-long joint training exercise, dubbed as Lupah Sug 01-2021, involving units from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

“As your Defense Secretary, I am always excited to witness first-hand the efforts of our troops to improve their skills and capacities further so that they can better fulfill their duties and do well in their missions,” the JTF-Sulu quoted Lorenzana as saying.

Lorenzana commended the JTF-Sulu for its successful operations in recent weeks and months and pledged his full support to the task force's endeavors.

“Rest assured that the Defense Department, our national government, especially under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, are always ready to provide you with the necessary support, be it through capability upgrades, better infrastructure, rewards and compensation, and morale-boosting programs for you soldiers and your families,” he added.

Lorenzana was accompanied during his visit to Sulu by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, newly-installed Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff; Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief; Reynaldo Mapagu, defense undersecretary of civil, veterans, and retiree affairs; and Maj. Gen. Rowen Tolentino, Philippine Army chief-of-staff.

Gonzales said Lorenzana's presence inspires "our troops here in Sulu to take it up a notch, to build a strong force that is always ready to face any challenge. For this, we train as we fight."

He said the need for the joint training exercise was highlighted during last year's widely known interdiction operation dubbed as Perfect Storm 2 that led to the neutralization of key Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in November last year.

During the operation, seven ASG bandits were killed when Army’s Special Forces troops aboard a helicopter gunship and a multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) intercepted a twin-engine speed boat of the ASG off Sulare Island, Parang, Sulu.

The slain ASG bandits were reportedly set to stage an abduction when intercepted by government forces.

“In this joint training, we have learned a lot, and definitely we are gaining headway in closing operational land-air-sea gaps. With the local governments and all of Tausug's support, I am confident that the end of terrorism here in Sulu is within our reach,” he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131310