Protector of the West Philippine Sea and the Last Frontier: WESCOM bolsters WPS advocacy campaign in Palawan

At the Rizal Reef Hall, Camp Artemio Ricarte, Palawan, participants of the 'MULAT' cascaded and rocked the WESCOM sign.

March 19, 2025 (Puerto Princesa, Palawan) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7, successfully capped off its Communication Plan (ComPlan) ‘MULAT’ cascading and trainor’s training to the various Unified Commands in the country during its visit at the Western Command (WESCOM), Palawan.

In his welcoming remarks, Lieutenant Colonel ROMMER I. DE GUILO PA, ACUCS for CMO, U7, prodded the participants to open themselves to learning, exchange ideas, and manifest the civil-military operations spirit as they tackle matters surrounding the West Philippine Sea (WPS)—an issue relevant to their region.

COL HERRERA discussing the purpose and objectives of the ComPlan MULAT to the participants.

Palawan, positioned at the forefront of defense in the WPS, is at the center of geopolitical tensions between the Philippines and China. As the vanguard of the campaign, Colonel JO-AR A. HERRERA PA underscored the vital role of ComPlan ‘MULAT’ in amplifying the awareness and understanding of the military personnel and civil society on the Philippine-AFP narratives surrounding the WPS issues. “Kapag aware ka, naninindigan ka,” he stated. Colonel HERRERA further remarked that even our soldiers can be victims of fake news and manipulations. Hence, preparing the troops before their engagement with the community is a crucial step to ensure aligned messaging and synchronized actions to counter the PRC’s information warfare.

Upholding the aims of measured transparency, Lieutenant Colonel LEO M. MIRADOR PA outlined the importance of ComPlan ‘MULAT’ to the participants from the WESCOM Joint Operational Area, along with various counterparts from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police. Moreover, Ms. Marian Mangahas, RA, OJ7, detailed the media and communication guidelines as part of the information and educational materials to equip the participants in their future engagements.

One of the key participants, Captain TIRSO L. CHAVEZ PN, highlighted the importance of using the local language during community engagement, and Ms. Grace Abdon, the chairperson of People’s Empowerment Against Crime Elements Palawan (PEACE PALAWAN), further emphasized the ethics, courtesy, and respect when delivering the message across target audiences to increase support from stakeholders.

AFP officers, enlisted personnel, and counterparts from BFP, PCG, and PNP drafting their action plans during the StratCom workshop.

A strategic communications workshop was held in the second half of the event to train the participants in developing their own action plan for stakeholder engagement and mobilization of support. Colonel HERRERA reminded the participants to make time to study and review the materials and issue at hand. He said that, “We need to understand the mindset and attitude of the stakeholders to be able to develop a sound plan.”

The West Philippine Sea issue is not just a military problem but a national problem. As protector of the people and the state, the AFP will continue its mandate to secure peace, stability, and prosperity for the nation. Protecting the territorial waters is a commitment to the past, present, and future.

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