Ph Marines vow support to Wesmincom
THE Philippine Marine Corps on Monday, March 11, vowed support to the operational mandate of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) in protecting Philippine territory from foreign invaders in accordance with the defense and military’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).
The Philippine Marines, a naval infantry contingent of the Philippine Navy, is regarded as the first line of defense in case invaders try to breach the country’s territory and sovereignty.
Wesmincom Public Affairs chief Maj. Andrew Linao said Philippine Marine Corps commandant, Maj. Gen. Arturo Rojas, visited Wesmincom on Friday and committed the Marines’ support to Wesmincom, tasked with strengthening its maritime security and territorial defense operations.
“The marine forces are always prepared to support the operations of Wesmincom here in the southern frontier,” said Rojas.
The Marines were instrumental in liberating Marawi City from the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Abu Sayyaf, who seized the city for nearly a month.
The 2017 Marawi City crisis left at least 920 militants, including long-time ASG top leader Isnilon Hapilon, 165 soldiers and 47 civilians dead before the Armed Forces of the Philippines were able to neutralize the IS forces.
Wesmincom commander Lt. Gen. William Gonzales thanked Rojas for visiting the command and extending his support to Wesmincom’s endeavors.
Gonzales also praised Rojas’s exemplary leadership.
Rojas previously served as the commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade based in Tawi-Tawi.
He was also designated as the deputy commander and subsequently the acting commander of Wesmincom before ascending to the ladder of leadership of his military career in 2023.
The Marines’ commitment to external defense in Wesmincom forms part of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s directive to AFP to increase military presence in various maritime domains, parallel to fortifying them to warn, deny or even intercept potential intruders.
Teodoro emphasized strategic action as he urged military commanders and units in the AFP to exert all efforts to operationalize the CADC.
The mechanism of the CADC includes putting maritime denial modules in place to preempt suspicious intrusion operations by foreign elements in the porous Philippine archipelago.
At present, the defense and military establishment is fast-tracking the acquisition of modern armaments that include attack jet fighters, artillery batteries, sophisticated naval vessels and other materials that could boost the defense capabilities of the AFP.