Manila, Feb. 17 -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has hailed outgoing Western Command (Wescom) head Vice Adm. Alfonso Torres Jr. for his leadership that allowed the unit to expand its maritime domain awareness capabilities in its area of operations, which includes the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This took place during the change-of-duty and retirement ceremony for Torres at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig on Monday.

"Under the leadership of Vice Admiral Torres, Wescom strengthened its maritime domain awareness, expanded its operational presence through the deployment of personnel in detachments across our frontier islands, and sustained surveillance operations by conducting maritime patrols over ...