ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The new
chief of the Western Command, Maj. Gen. Rustico O. Guerrero has pledged to
double security efforts in Palawan to help the province achieve its development
goals.
Guerrero,
who replaced Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban as WESCOM commander last April 1, said in
a recent press release he would continue focusing on the three major aspects of
developmental support for the province - that of ensuring territorial integrity
of the areas under the command's jurisdiction, enhancing disaster response
management, and strengthening partnerships with the civil groups – “with a
doubled military effort.”
"We
will address the internal security concerns, we will continue to support the
environmental groups and local government units' initiatives to sustain
environmental protection efforts and, of course, we will find ways to further
enhance disaster response in the province," Guerrero assured.
He said these
tasks are not new to him, having served as PMC Commandant prior to his
appointment as WESCOM chief because he has been undertaking the same in other
parts of the country where he was assigned.
"We
will put the right people on the ground and we will assure you that [the
military] will continue working with the people of Palawan to achieve the
purpose of our presence here [in the province]," the newly-installed
WESCOM commanding general said.
Guerrero
also said, he is not daunted by the challenges posed by limited resources that
WESCOM has at its disposal because he believes the men and women of the
different units under the Unified Command can augment its lack of physical
assets.
The marine
officer, however, stressed that “the cooperation of the local community is an
essential factor in ensuring the success of the military's mission.”
He appeals
to the public to observe the spirit of "Bayanihan" or communal
volunteerism that is the core of the military's Internal Peace and Security
Plan.
Guerrero
previously served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Brigade and as
Superintendent of the Marine Corps Training Center. He is a member of the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1981.
He finished
his Masters of Military Study and Command and Staff College in Marine Corps
University in Quantico, Virginia, USA; took up Foreign Officers Tactical
Intelligence Course in Queensland, Australia, and tactical, operational and
strategic command courses in various military institutions in the country.
Prior to his
assumption as commandant on August 24, 2010, he was the commander of the Joint
Task Force Comet for almost one year in Sulu. (6CRGAFP/PIA9)