Top defense, military officials visit PHL's southwestern-most island

From GMA News (Jan 18): Top defense, military officials visit PHL's southwestern-most island

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año on Wednesday visited the country's southwestern-most island to woo residents to support the government's campaign against terrorism and illegal drugs.

Lorenzana and Año were joined by the respective commanders of the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force in visiting the town of Sibutu in Tawi-Tawi where they also had a dialogue with local officials.

A military statement said Lorenzana held a dialogue with Mayor Alshefa Pajiji, other municipal and barangay officials, the chairman and members of the Association of 16 Barangay Captains, and military commanders in Tawi-Tawi. During the meeting,

Lorenzana called for the commitment of local leaders in assisting the military. "He emphasized that it is not enough that the military provides the security. Good governance and the cooperation of the people are essential ingredients for progress to set in," the Armed Forces of the Philippines statement said..

Pajiji, for his part, threw his support to the AFP, saying his constituents will help the military in ending the criminal activities of the Abu Sayyaf, as he lamented the incidents of kidnappings around Sibutu that have affected his municipality.

On the other hand, Año assured Pajiji of the AFP's continuing intensified military operations against the Abu Sayyaf urged communities to participate in warding off the terrorist group by denying them access to their sanctuaries and logistics.

"The people should be actively involved in monitoring the arrival of strangers or the happening of criminal activities in the island," the AFP said.

"The residents should organize themselves to be active partners of government in providing security, livelihood, and development opportunities."

Meanwhile, Association of Barangay Captains president Calbi Nami sought for government assistance to illuminate the island's streets and communities with solar lights which he said would benefit more than 30,000 Sibutu residents.

Año urged Joint Task Force Tawi-tawi commander Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, Jr. to call on the AFP's partner-stakeholders to dicuss the lighting project of Sibutu.

Pajiji later expressed the gratitude of his people for the visit of Lorenzana and other AFP top officials.

"It's been many years since this municipality was ever visited by a high government official, much less by a Secretary of National Defense," Pajiji said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/596214/news/regions/top-defense-military-officials-visit-phl-s-southwestern-most-island