More civil-military operation is WESCOM’s new peace plan

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan. 21 (PIA) -– WESCOM Commander LtGen Juancho M. Sabban reveals its new peace plan that involves more of civil-military operations to win the hearts of people to work for peace.
“With the new Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) already in effect, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be implementing more civil-military operations such as the medical mission conducted in Barangay Simpocan in Puerto Princesa City,” the WESCOM Commander said.

He explained that the new IPSP of the AFP, called “Bayanihan,” is heavy on community service-oriented and development-centered programs and projects and that it will be in effect until 2016.
“Through the “Bayanihan,” the armed forces will become not just the protector of the people, but a strong partner in development as well,” LtGen Sabban stated.
In a press statement, the AFP’s 6th Civil Relations Group (CRG) shared that WESCOM’s new peace plan was launched with a medical mission in partnership with a group of doctors from Hawaii.
Together with the Puerto Princesa City Health Office, the group conducted a medical and dental mission last January 12 at Barangay Simpocan, Puerto Princesa City.
The report said that this group of doctors, all member of the Aloha Medical Group based in Hawaii, has been conducting pro bono services in different parts of the world and has been generous to offer their free services to help the residents of Barangay Simpocan.
Residents of the barangay availed of free basic medical and dental services such as blood pressure check-up and tooth extraction which most of them could barely afford if they went to a private clinic.
The medical team also offered free circumcision to little boys, considered a rite of passage in Filipino culture.

Minor surgical operation was also offered for free. More than 500 residents benefited from the said medical and dental mission.
One resident of the barangay, who had a benign lump removed from his nape, was grateful that their barangay was chosen as the venue for the medical mission.
He related that he had wanted to have the lump removed because he was worried about it, although it was not causing him any discomfort. He could not, however, afford the cost of the surgery.
“This is a great help to us and this is such a relief for me. I will not have to worry anymore about this lump slowly getting bigger at the back of my neck. I used to imagine that this could be something really malignant and that I might die from it,” he shared in Filipino.
During the said activity, the 6th Civil Relations Group conducted “film showing” to the residents while waiting to be checked by the doctors to put emphasis on the current efforts of the AFP to “win the peace” with the communities.
Other units and organizations participated were Naval Forces West (NFW) of the Navy, 570th Composite Tactical Wing (570th CTW) of the Airforce, Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 (MBLT8), Camp General Artemio Ricarte Station Hospital, 1308th Dental Dispensary, the Puerto Princesa City Government particularly the City Health Office and the Barangay of Simpucan.

(6CRGAFP/PIA9-BST/rvc) PIA Press Release