Senior leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) convened in a forum on April 2 here to consolidate support for gender and development programs in the military.
In partnership with the United Nations Women Philippines and the Philippine Commission on Women, the Senior Leaders’ Forum on Gender and Development became an avenue for discussions on women’s participation in government and highlighted their role in peace and security.
Participants from the AFP Major Services and the General Headquarters also exchanged gender mainstreaming best practices and were enjoined to accelerate gender equality and women empowerment in the AFP.
“This forum on gender and development will capacitate our senior leaders and their units and offices to have a deeper understanding of GAD policies and mandates,” said LtGen Charlton Sean Gaerlan, The Deputy Chief of Staff AFP.
The support and collaboration of Naval Forces West with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency had been instrumental in the arrest of four Chinese nationals suspected of conducting fraudulent schemes involving government-issued identification cards and documents on March 19 in Palawan.
The operation, hailed as a triumph in the fight against identity fraud, was carried out in Bgy. San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, nabbing the alleged masterminds behind the illicit operation such as Wang Tao, Li Xiaoming, Guo Zhi Yang, and Lyu Zhiyang, alias Ken Garcia Lee.
During the operation, a cache of Philippine-issued IDs, including drivers’ licenses, postal IDs, and birth certificates, were seized from the foreign nationals who allegedly facilitated the illegal procurement of Philippine documents for foreign nationals.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco commended the operatives for apprehending what he referred to as “big fish” in the world of identity fraud.
Tansingco then reiterated the importance of vigilance among local government units, urging them to report instances of illegal activities by foreign nationals in their jurisdictions.
Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. likewise said that this inter- agency accomplishment highlights the Philippine Navy’s mandate in assisting other government agencies in the enforcement of laws and regulations toward safeguarding the nation’s interests and ensuring the safety of its citizens.