New CentCom spokesman: AFP should conduct more civic action

The new spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Central Visayas said the military should have more non-traditional roles aside from waging war against the enemy.

Major Samuel Sagun told The Freeman that there are other activities aside from doing combat operations that the military should undertake. Sagun replaced Lt. Col. Jefferson Omandam as information officer of the Central Command during a simple turnover ceremony yesterday.

Sagun said soldiers are not only for war but also for civic action such as doing developmental projects in mountain barangays of the countryside.

The AFP’s non-traditional programs in the community have always been set aside by the media, which preferred to give more emphasis on its operations against the communist insurgency and Muslim rebellion.

Sagun said the public should know more of the non-lethal operations of the military, assuring the media that anything the public wanted to know would be readily available as long as it is not ‘classified’ and does not pose threat to the national security.

“We will base this in the principle of the public’s right to know,” he said.

On the other hand, the Central Command is planning to hold a social gathering with the media that, Sagun said, will be a lot different from the previous meetings. He said the function would include games and other activities.

Sagun is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Tanglaw Diwa” Class of 1992. He was formerly the spokesman for the Philippine Army 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division based in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City.  Meanwhile, Omandam will be back to his original assignment as part of the Unified Command Staff of the Central Command. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM