By Priam F. Nepomuceno
MANILA, July 17 (PNA) — Aside from focusing on external and internal threats, newly-appointed Philippine Army (PA) commander Major Gen. Eduardo Año said that efforts are also underway to improve their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities.
This is in-line with efforts to make the PA more capable in mastering current developing and future environments.
“To attain its military objectives and achieve the strategic objectives set by the Department of National Defense, this operating concept will set your Army as a land power in multi-dimentional operations to address internal and external security concerns, terrorism, disaster response and other peripheral security challenges,” he added.
Año stressed that this will be done by rationalizing the current Army structure and reviewing the current capability upgrade.
The former was appointed to his new post last July 15. He replaced Lt. Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri who was appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of–staff last July 10.
He is now the 57th PA commanding general.
Año is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983.
“For while we remain to be a fighting force to protect the people and the state, we will also be the force of hope our people can count on in the face of disaster and capability,” the new PA chief disclosed. (PNA)