New Western Command chief Lt. Gen Roy Deveraturda (left) and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Emmanuel Bautista in a turnover ceremony at Wescom Headquarters on Tuesday. Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs
MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen Roy Deveraturda finally assumed post as chief of the Western Command based in Palawan on Tuesday.
He was supposed to take over Wescom in early November, but was postponed due to typhoon Yolanda.
Before his new position, he was commander of the Central Command based in Cebu.
Deveraturda will oversee areas that include the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
He said he will uphold maritime domain awareness in his new post but at the same time, the issue on West Philippine Sea will be resolved through peaceful means.
“We have to review the way we do things, our operations, how we conduct security patrols,” he said.
Deveraturda is a member of the Philippine Air Force Flying School of 1980. He is an attack pilot and an instructor pilot.
Major General John Bonafos, former chief of the Special Operations Command, took over the Central Command.
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