Esperon lauds PalawanWESCOM chief

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso

“YOU HAVE done well; your efforts have helped the Philippines in securing its interests in the Spratlys,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon said as he lauded Rear Adm. Ruperto Rico C. Borromeo and the Western Command (Wescom) during the celebration of its 32^nd anniversary on March 24.

Esperon cited Wescom’s accomplishments in decreasing the membership of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) from 84 in 2001 to 33 in 2007.

“They’re decreasing and decreasing and in less than one year, they’re irrelevant in Palawan,” he said as he challenged Wescom and local government officials in the province to help each other end the atrocities of the communist rebels.

He also extolled Borromeo and the military in Palawan for averting the planned bombing of several vital installations in the city, as well as kidnapping, which seven members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who were arrested were supposed to carry out last year in commemoration of the World Trade Center bombing in the U.S.

“You have averted what could have been a bloody attack in Palawan,” he said.

During the program for the celebration, Borromeo thanked the people of Palawan for their support to the Wescom which had helped them achieved many accomplishmentsk, not just in the environment but primarily in protecting the people.

He said that though the military suffered too in its fight against communist terrorists – the killing of elements of the Marines in San Vicente – 74 Palawenos who earlier supported the CPP-NPA have pledged their allegiance back to the government. The Marines were killed in an ambush.

In the same event, Esperon announced in public that Borromeo is just awaiting confirmation of the Commission on Appointments before his rank changes to Rear Admiral.

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