From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 25):
Gazmin lauds WESCOM’s effective management of troops, assets in West Philippines Sea
Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
lauded Tuesday the Western Command (WESCOM) in Palawan for its efficient and
effective deployment of “limited troops and assets in various critical
operations in the vast area of the countries national territory in the West Philippines
Sea.”
Gazmin, whose speech did not dwell much on the issue
involving the disputed region, said this on the occasion of the 39th WESCOM
Founding Anniversary in this city.
He furthered that “this is characterized in the proper
handling of WESCOM of delicate situations and issues concerning the
Philippines’ sovereignty, the integrity of the national territory, and the
protection of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)” in the disputed area.
“This is especially true in the difficult job of providing
security to the Kalayaan Islands Group, and the provision and maintenance of
our security elements on Ayungin Shoal aboard the BRP Sierra Madre,” he said,
adding the role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is clearly governed
by its constitutional mandate to help in the resolution of territorial dispute
and conflicts, adherence to international law, and the policy of peace.
“Essentially, the employment of our troops in the Western
Command is to protect its citizens from the enemies of the state, to secure
them from natural and man-made threats, to safeguard human rights, and to
ensure the delivery of basic necessities and services to the needy and
far-flung communities,” he said.
The defense secretary said too, that WESCOM’s theme, which
literally means “Armed Forces that Join and Unite together for a Peaceful,
Progressive, and Strong Palawan,” is a wellspring of hope and inspiration for
the Philippines’ peace-loving people amidst the difficult challenges it is
courageously confronting today,” he said.
This, according to him, effectively reflects the essence of
unity and solidarity of WESCOM in the pursuit of peace, progress, and stability
for Palawan and its people.
Gazmin said the WESCOM has done well in the accomplishment
of its mission and firm commitment in the execution of the constitutional duty
of the armed forces as the protector of the people and state.
In his speech, he commended Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez for
the “sustained standard of discipline, training, and performance of the
officers, men, and women of Western Command.”
He said “these are the attributes of the troops in the
profession of arms; these are the standards that have been exemplified by
WESCOM, and should be emulated by other commands and units” in the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP).
”I have high confidence in the professional capabilities of
WESCOM. Dynamic as it is, its leadership has strictly adhered to the prescribed
standard of our profession of arms in leading its personnel to the avenue of
genuine service for our nation and people,” he said.
The defense secretary said that the current peace-loving,
peace-keeping role of WESCOM for the Philippines’ national security endeavors
is of primordial importance in the pursuit of the implementation and success of
the internal peace and security plan Bayanihan, which is delicate that requires
utmost respect for human rights.
WESCOM’s obedience to it, he said, has been highly
instrumental in significantly reducing internal security threat that led to the
“official declaration of Palawan as Zone of
Sustained Peace, Development and Prosperity.”
Lopez in his speech credited the hard work of the officers,
men, and women of the Command for its achievements in 2014.
These are the peaceful surrender and re-integration to
society of 23 members of the communist-terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA)
in the province through the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) in the 1st
Quarter of 2014, which reduced internal threats; the declaration of Palawan as
a conflict manageable area, and a sustained peace and development zone in the
2nd Quarter; and defended the country’s right to sustain forces in Kalayaan and
showed operational readiness through the conduct of bilateral exercises with
the allies of the Philippines, such as the Marine Corps Amphibious Landing
Exercise, and the Marine Tactical Warfare Simulation Exercise in the 3rd
Quarter.
In the 4th Quarter, he said the WESCOM strictly implemented
the “One AFP Team Concept” and structured the Command’s organization into an
all trend task force for greater mission effectiveness.
In anticipation, he said, of potential crisis and disasters,
WESCOM also initiated the creation of a joint and inter-agency task force on
integrated crisis assistance and response to emergencies, or iCARE.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=747765
