Nationwide Protection Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Nationwide Protection Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is proud to ascertain a modernized and extra purposeful protection setup that can assist defend the nation.
“I need to be remembered because the Secretary of Protection who was in a position to make a distinction: the development of the Protection group for the nice of the nation,” mentioned the retired Army normal, who will formally step down as DND Chief on June 30.
Over the past six years, the DND was in a position to purchase two multi-role guided missile frigates, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), which have been commissioned in 2020 and 2021 respectively; six models of Embraer A-29B Tremendous Tucano shut air assist plane and 16 models of S-70i Black Hawk fight utility helicopters; air surveillance radars, drones, missile methods, and numerous power safety and weapons methods.
Nationwide Protection Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
“These new belongings will additional strengthen our humanitarian help and catastrophe response, air, maritime, and land protection in addition to joint command and management capabilities,” mentioned Lorenzana.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines additionally carried out 6,958 naval floor patrols and 6,432 air patrols within the nation’s territory and borders, together with within the highly-contested West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Underneath Lorenzana’s watch, the Nationwide Protection additionally constructed new constructions on Pagasa (Thitu) Island in Kalayaan Island Group, Palawan. This features a beaching ramp which was inaugurated in 2020, and an airstrip which is ready to complete this month.
There have been additionally improved constructions in six different Philippine-occupied islands in WPS specifically in Kota, Parola, Panata, Likas, Lawak, and Panguan to claim the nation’s sovereignty and fortify the army’s defenses of the mentioned areas.
“With these fashionable and multi-role belongings added to the AFP’s stock, in addition to the capability improvement and reforms now we have instituted, we’re hopeful that the protection sector’s trajectory will proceed its upward momentum and result in sustained peace and stability for the nation,” mentioned Lorenzana.
Counter insurgency, anti-terrorism efforts
Lorenzana added that the Philippine army was additionally in a position to maintain its counter-insurgency operations, even because it inspired 1000’s of rebels to return to the fold of the legislation.
“Maybe one of many largest accomplishments of the DND is the liberation of Marawi the place we made accountable all of those that attacked town in 2017. We have been in a position to forestall the ISIS from establishing their base right here in our nation,” mentioned Lorenzana, referring to the five-month struggle between the Philippine army and native and overseas terrorists led by the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group.
Even the kidnappings perpetrated by the infamous ASG in Mindanao have been prevented by the AFP. In 2016, the ASG had 21 hostages nevertheless it has since gone all the way down to zero as of 2022 after they have been rescued by the army.
Some 1,500 ASG members, 971 members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and 1,427 members of Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) have been additionally neutralized by the AFP.
On prime of that, he claimed the AFP dismantled 56 out of 68 guerilla fronts of the Communist Celebration of the Philippines, New Individuals’s Army, and Nationwide Democratic Entrance (CPP-NPA-NDF) from June 2016 to April 2022.
A complete of 25,772 communist rebels and a couple of,290 violent extremists have been both killed, arrested, or surrendered to authorities as of April 30.
As of April 30, a complete of 9,326 former rebels have been supplied with monetary help; 30,009 surrenderers and their dependents have graduated in abilities coaching; and 978 others have acquired housing help by means of the Enhanced Complete Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The President additionally signed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 on July 3, 2020, to supply a stronger authorized instrument for combating terrorism, together with the Government Order No. 70 in 2018, which harmonizes all efforts in the direction of a united nationwide peace framework through the Nationwide Activity Drive to Finish Native Communist Armed Battle (NTF-ELCAC).
“That is what now we have completed. That is what we’ll go all the way down to the individuals and to the following administration. That is the legacy of President Duterte,” mentioned Lorenzana.
READ: Duterte indicators BFP modernization legislation; justifies arming firefighters
je/abc
Subscribe to our each day publication
Learn Subsequent
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get entry to The Philippine Day by day Inquirer & different 70+ titles, share as much as 5 devices, take heed to the information, obtain as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Name 896 6000.
