links: http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/389-defense-secretary-afp-brass-visit-farthest-phil-island
Defense Secretary, AFP Brass Visit Farthest Phil Island
CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City –
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana accompanied by the AFP Chief of
Staff General Eduardo Año and the Chiefs of the Army, the Navy, and the
Air Force on Wednesday 18 January 2017 visited the island Municipality
of Sibutu – the county's southwestern most island – to visit the troops
and enlist the support of the community in the government's campaign
against terrorism, kidnapping, piracy, and illegal drugs in this part of
the archipelago.
Lorenzana expressed the need for the cooperation of local leaders in the national well-being.
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.
Sibutu Mayor Alshefa Pajiji meanwhile
laments the incidence of kidnappings around the island that adversely
affects his municipality. He wishes it stopped. He committed to his
"esteemed visitors" his support and that of his constituents to help in
the campaign to end the criminal activities of the ASG among other
concerns.
General Año assures the Mayor of the
AFP's focused and unrelenting campaign vs. ASG. He noted however that
the ASGs can only thrive in places where they can find refuge or
support.
Hence the people of Sibutu can help a lot by denying the ASGs sanctuary and logistics.
The people should be actively involved
in monitoring the arrival of strangers or the happening of criminal
activities in the island. The resident should organize themselves to be
active partners of government in providing security, livelihood, and
development opportunities.
Mr. Calbi Nami, the President of the
Association of Barangay Captains, for his part, sought the assistance of
government for solar lights to illuminate their streets and communities
to uplift the lives of some 30 Thousand residents of the Municipality.
General Año mentioned that AFP
partner-stakeholders have, in the past, successfully embarked on similar
solar lights project. He said his commanders can call on the said
groups anew to discuss the possibility of engaging on another project
for Sibutu thru the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi under the command of
Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, Jr.
After the meeting, Mayor Pajiji
expressed his elation and the gratitude of his people. "It's been many
years since this municipality was ever visited by a high government
official, much less by a Secretary of National Defense.
"We are even more blessed today that the
AFP Chief of Staff and his top commanders came with him to see our
condition. Magsukol, Daghang Salamat po. (Thank you, Thank you very
much)." Pajiji said.
Defense Secretary Lorenzana, Gen Año,
and the Commanding General Phil Army LTGen Glorioso Miranda; Philippine
Navy Flag Officer in Command VAdm Ronald Joseph Mercado; the Commanding
General of the Phil Air Force LTGen Edgar Fallorina; and 11 other
generals and flag officers from the Department of National Defense, the
General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, and Western Mindanao Command, to
include the Director National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Alex
Monteagudo are in Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi primarily to visit the
troops and be able to meet with the people in the areas where these
Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines are deployed.
Earlier in the day, this delegation from
the defense establishment met with the local and religious leaders of
Simunul Island that hosts the oldest mosque that became the precursor of
Islam religion in the Philippines.
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