BY VICTOR REYES
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr has designated three two-star generals to key positions in the Philippine Army.
Two of them will lead the military’s counter-insurgency operations in portions of Luzon and the Visayas.
Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao was named Army vice commander while Maj. Generals Camilo Ligayo and Roberto Capulong were appointed as commanders of the 8th and 2nd Infantry Divisions (ID).
Bajao, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1989, took over as the as the Army’s No. 2 man, replacing Ligayo who assumed the post of 8th ID commander.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr presided over the assumption of Bajao last Wednesday, during rites held at the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
Bajao served as Army inspector general. The Army has yet to announce who will be Bajao’s successor.
Ligayo assumed command of the 8th ID last Friday, during rites also presided by Brawner at the 8th headquarters in Camp Lukban in Samar.
The 8th ID is leading the fight against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Samar.
Ligayo succeeded Brig. Gen. Zosimo Oliveros who has been serving as acting 8th ID commander since last month, in concurrent capacity as the unit’s vice commander.
Before assuming as Army vice commander last August, Ligayo (PMA Class 1989) was AFP deputy chief of staff for reservist and retiree affairs.
Meanwhile, Capulong took over as 2nd ID commander last Thursday. Brawner also presided over his assumption at the 2nd ID headquarters in Camp Capinpin in Rizal.
Capulong took over from Brig. Gen. Rommel Tello who served as acting 2nd ID commander since July last year, in concurrent capacity as the unit’s vice commander.
Capulong, of the PMA Class 1990, is the outgoing Army chief of staff, the Army’s No. 3 man. He has served as acting Army vice commander, acting 6th Infantry Division commander, senior military assistant to the defense secretary, and the Army’s assistant chief of staff for plans, among others.
The 2nd ID is leading military efforts to end the NPA problem in Calabarzon regions and in the Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, and Romblon.
There was still no word who will be replacing Capulong as Army chief of staff.
Brawner said he is confident Bajao, as Army vice commander, “will continue the good work and bring to completion the necessary policies in the command.”
Brawner said he is certain that Ligao “will bring forth your competence in pursuing the best interest in your unit (as 8th ID commander).”
“Likewise, I am confident that you will continue to uphold the foundations laid down by your predecessors. I am challenging Maj. Gen. Ligayo to finish the problem in insurgency here in the province of Samar,” said Brawner.
Brawner thanked Capulong for his “hard work” and “for effectively leading the staff as the Army chief of staff.”
