CentCom chief: Soldiers want peace most

The top military brass in the Visayas said the biggest beneficiary of peace are soldiers themselves.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is organized for war, but why are we talking about peace?”

Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda of the AFP Central Command (CentCom) made this statement as he addressed Saturday afternoon’s candle-lighting ceremony to close the National Peace Consciousness Month at Camp Lapu-Lapu. Soldiers, families and representatives from different government agencies attended the event in support for the cause of peace. In his speech, Deveraturda said everybody should work hand in hand to achieve harmony.

“If we address the root causes of violence, we can attain peace,” said Deveraturda.

The candle-lighting activity was a simultaneous event to underscore peace efforts in all camps of the AFP under the CentCom in regions 6 and 8. “At times of war, peril and danger, we soldiers always advocate peace because it is our duty to fight for the security of the nation. And with that, these soldiers are the first casualties,” he said noting the soldiers who died in Zamboanga crisis.

September of every year has been declared as peace month by the Office of the President. /Apple Ta-as, Correspondent