The Western Command (abbrv. as WESCOM) is the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...
' unified command in charge of the islands of
Palawan
Palawan (), officially the Province of Palawan ( cyo, Probinsya i'ang Palawan; tl, Lalawigan ng Palawan), is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in ...
and
Kalayaan, including the disputed
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands ( fil, Kapuluan ng Kalayaan; zh, c=南沙群島/南沙群岛, s=, t=, p=Nánshā Qúndǎo; Malay, id, Kepulauan Spratly; vi, Quần đảo Trường Sa) are a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea. Composed o ...
group. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggresion, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency.
Operations
* Anti-guerrilla operations against the
New People's Army
The New People's Army ( fil, Bagong Hukbong Bayan), abbreviated NPA or BHB, is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), based primarily in the Philippine countryside. It acts as the CPP's principal organization, aimi ...
* Anti-terrorist operations against known terror groups operating in their AOR.
* Guarding and patrol operation on Philippine occupied Spratly Islands (Kalayaan Island Group).
*Defense and Protection of Palawan and islands in the West Philippine Sea against Chinese Aggression.
* Joint Multinational Search and Rescue Operations for
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370) was an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared on 8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination ...
.
Organization
The following are the units that are under the Western Command:
* Tactical Operations Wing West, PAF
* Naval Forces West, PN
* MBLT-3, PMC
* MBLT-4, PMC
* 18th Special Forces Company (Riverine), PA
* 3rd Marine Brigade, PMC
References
External links
*
Official History of the AFP citing the creation of Central Command
{{DEFAULTSORT:Afp Western Command
Regional commands of the Philippines
Military units and formations established in 2001
Puerto Princesa