AN armor officer has taken the helm of the AFP Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), a major unit supervising military operations in the southern Luzon area.
Maj. Gen. Facundo Palafox IV assumed as the post of Solcom commander during rites presided over by Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr at the Solcom headquarters in Lucena City on Saturday.
As Solcom commander, Palafox will supervise operations in the Calabarzon and Bicol regions, and the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon.
Palafox succeeded Lt. Gen. Efren Baluyot, also an armor officer, who reaches the retirement age of 57 today. Baluyot was named Solcom commander in August last year.
Palafox was commander of the Army’s Armor Division, based in Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac, before becoming the Solcom commander.
He has also served as commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade, commander of the Army Civil Military Operations Regiment, and Army Assistant Chief of Staff of Staff for Civil Military Operations.
Palafox is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1990 which also includes Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido and AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura as members.
Baluyot is from the PMA class 1989, the same PMA class as Brawner, Navy chief Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci, and AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan.
The military has yet to announce who will succeed Palafox in the Army’s Armor Division.
“Maj. Gen. Palafox, good luck to you. You have the support of all your commanders, all the stakeholders and more especially you have the support of the general headquarters,” said Brawner.
Brawner urged Palafox to “defend our peace with steadfastness, leading the brave soldiers of Solcom with courage, honor and unwavering dedication.”
