CentCom transfer remains in limbo

CEBU, Philippines - The hierarchy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is still reviewing the memorandum of agreement it entered with the Province of Cebu on the proposed transfer of Central Command headquarters.

This was bared yesterday by Colonel Philip Lapinid, civil military operations officer of CentCom, during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza.

Lapinid said the change of administration of the Province of Cebu is among the considerations taken by the AFP hierarchy.

“Nakita sa current hierarchy sa Armed Forces nga mas gikinahanglan ang headquarters sa Central Command nga naa dinhi sa Camp Lapu-Lapu,” he said.

Governor Hilario Davide III earlier said CentCom headquarters would stay in its current location in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

During the incumbency of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia in 2009, the province signed a MOA with the AFP through then Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro for the transfer of the CentCom headquarters to Lapu-Lapu City.

Another proposal was to transfer the CentCom headquarters to the municipality of Tuburan in mid-north of Cebu.

Lapinid said the context of the agreement “was not performed” which included the province to construct first the replication of the CentCom buildings.

Under the MOA, the province “shall replicate or cause to be replicated all the existing and identified buildings/facilities/structures of headquarters CentCom and its supporting units with perimeter fence at its relocation area at Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.”

“Ang AFP naay gihimo nga lakang nga mausab ang MOA kay naa man gyu’y need nga mahabilin ang atong AFP sa Central Visayas tungod kay central ang location sa Camp Lapu-Lapu,” Lapinid said.

Lieutenant Commander Jim Alagao, chief of CentCom Public Information Office, also cited the natural and man-made disasters in Metro Cebu last year, such as the ship collision at Lawis Ledge in Talisay City and the earthquake, as another factor being considered why the headquarters should stay in its present location.

“You cannot just imagine kung ang atong Central Command is nabalhin sa nothern Cebu sa Tuburan and then nisalanta to ang calamities,” Alagao said.

Lapinid stressed that the Chief of Staff has an order that the AFP should be at the forefront of disaster response.

“Nakita nato nga very strategic jud ang iyang location in the heart of Metro Cebu, so paspas ta nga nakalihok, naka-react atong panahona,” Alagao added. — (FREEMAN)