Navy beefs up defense capabilities in West PH Sea

The Philippine Navy will add more manpower and resources to its two major commands in charge of the security in the western part of the country, a military official said on Tuesday, April 1.

- BY AARON RECUENCO

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said change in the organizational structure approved by the Department of National Defense (DND) will make the top post of the naval component of the Western Command and the Northern Luzon Command as a two-star rank position, from a one-star rank position.

The Western Command and the Northern Luzon Command are two of the major unified commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force.

For the naval component of the Western Command, it is in charge of the defense and security of most parts of the West Philippine Sea while Northern Luzon covers the area of Batanes, Bajo de Masinloc, Babuyan Group of Islands and Benham Rise.