Help maintain the peace, says Phil Army commander

BY VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

MANAOAG – The Philippine Army  is proud to say it has won the peace in Luzon, but the challenge is to keep and maintain the peace.

Major Gen. Angelito De Leon, commander of the 7^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, said the Philippine Army will continue its mandate to secure and protect communities but it needs the help of everyone.

“We have won the peace. The challenge now is keeping that peace,” De Leon said during the 28^th founding anniversary of the 702^nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade under the 7ID, held at Camp Tito Abat in Manaoag town on Thursday.

De Leon said the army is in a state of change and is persevering its efforts through the Army Transformation Roadmap where the organization, structure, capabilities and even the individuals are upgraded.

“Our aim is not only to reform the unit but more so, to reform the individual soldier,” De Leon said adding that upgrading the equipment, weapons and vehicles will be of no use if the individual soldier is not improved.

Commander Milfredo Melegrito of the 702^nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade  echoed the same sentiment saying “security is a shared responsibility.”

“To the Defender troopers, let us continue our journey of service guided by this year’s theme, ‘your defender in peace and partner in development’,” Melegrito said.

Melegrito said  part of the anniversary celebration is the awarding and recognition of stakeholders  to thank them for their support.

Pre-anniversary activities included a blood letting drive  in partnership with the Region I Medical Center where 11,000 cc of  blood was collected  and a tree planting activity  in partnership with the Philippine Dental Association where 107 coconut seedlings and  assorted fruit bearing trees were planted. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)