Centino vows all-out support for troops in PH's northern frontier

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2023): Centino vows all-out support for troops in PH's northern frontier (By Priam Nepomuceno)

SUPPORT FOR TROOPS. AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino (center) and other senior military officers pose at the sovereignty marker on Mavulis Island, Batanes province on Thursday (June 29, 2023). During his visit, Centino vowed to provide all possible support to troops manning and protecting the country's northernmost frontier. (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino vowed to provide all possible support to troops manning and protecting the country's northernmost frontier during his visit to the archipelagic province of Batanes on Thursday.

During his meeting with military personnel in the area, the AFP chief appreciated the efforts of personnel stationed in the remote detachments and promised increased support from the General Headquarters.

"I appreciate what you are doing for the country. It is because of you that we are able to monitor activities in this area and assert our sovereignty. I hope that you show the true heart of military personnel in this difficult deployment," Centino said in a statement forwarded to reporters Friday.

The first area visited by the AFP chief was the Fishermen's Shelter on Mavulis Island, the country's northernmost island where a naval detachment is also located.

"I do these visits alongside our most senior staff to personally assess the morale and welfare of our personnel and the condition of our facilities in these remote locations. Rest assured that we will continue to work towards further enabling you to perform your jobs better," he added.

Centino also led a flag-raising ceremony at a sovereignty marker.

This was followed by a visit to the naval detachment in Itbayat, the largest island in Batanes, and to the headquarters of the 10th Marine Company in Basco, also in the same province.

Centino and senior AFP officers and the Northern Luzon Command later spent the night aboard landing dock BRP Tarlac (LD-601).

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204628