WESCOM sets direction for Civil Military Operations

by Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan 26 (PIA) – The Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) gathered the different officials in a workshop to set new direction for its Civil Military Operations (CMO) in Palawan.

The Deputy Chief of Staff for CMO, AFP, RADM Miguel Jose S. Rodriguez AFP, along with his staff conducted a three-day CMO Direction-Setting Workshop at the Headquarters of Western Command. The said workshop was held on January 18-20, 2012. 

The 6^th Civil Relations Group of the AFP reported that the CMO Direction-Setting Workshop aims to formulate CMO parameters, synergize action plans for the organic, operationally controlled and operation command (OPCON/OPCOM) units of WESCOM.

The workshop also intended to develop a report format for routine and special projects to quantify and qualify CMO parameters in the province of Palawan.

The Palawan Provincial and Puerto Princesa City Police Community Relations Officers attended the activity to further align their civil relations works.

RADM Rodriguez stressed that it is high time for the CMO activities of all units in Palawan to be more coordinated and to move in one direction towards achieving the ultimate goal--“wining the peace” of Oplan Bayanihan (IPSP).

Oplan Bayanihan is the counter-insurgency strategy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in winning the peace and not just defeating the enemy. The IPSP has four specific elements: good governance, delivery of basic services, economic reconstruction and sustainable development, and security sector reform to ensure the protection of the state and the people.

The three-day workshop was attended by all CMO officers of Western Command (WESCOM), 570^th Composite Tactical Wing (CTW), Naval Forces West (NFW), Joint Task Force Peacock (JTFP), Joint Task Force Malampaya (JTFM), 6^th Civil Relations Group of CRSAFP (6CRG,CRSAFP), Palawan CAA Administrative Unit (PCAU), Naval Reserve Center (NRCEN), 4^th Air Force Reserve Center (ARCEN), and Palawan Civil Defense Center (PCDC). (6CRGAFP/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)