PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has designated AFP deputy chief of staff for operations (J3) Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera as commander of an Army division leading the campaign against terrorist groups in Central Mindanao.
Rillera will take the helm of the Maguindanao-based 6th Infantry Division from Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, who assumed command last Friday as chief of the AFP Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.
Rillera, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1991, relinquished his post as J3 to Brig. Gen. Glen Jun Calumbay last Monday.
Calumbay will perform the job of J3 in an acting and concurrent capacity as the assistant J3.
“Maj. Gen Rillera will later assume as the new commander of the 6th Infantry Division (ID),” said AFP public affairs chief Col. Jorry Baclor.
Rillera will take over as 6th ID commander this week, said Baclor.
The 6th ID is in charge of the campaign against internal security threats in Central Mindanao, including the terrorist groups Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Daulah Islamiyah.
Several other senior military officials also assumed higher positions last Monday, including Marine Brig. Noel Beleran, who took over as the AFP deputy chief of staff for education, training and doctrine (J8).
Belaran, of the PMA class 1990, was previously the commander of the Naval Installation Command. The military has yet to announce his successor at the Navy unit.
Beleran succeeded Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, who has been serving as acting AFP deputy chief of staff for education, training and doctrine, in a concurrent capacity as assistant J8 since January 12.
Brig. Gen. Proceso Rebancos took over as the Chief Engineer of the Armed Forces, replacing Col. Celso Resurreccion Jr., who has been serving as acting Chief Engineer in concurrent capacity as deputy AFP Chief Engineer.
Rebancos, of the PMA class 1994, was previously the commander of the Army’s 53rd Engineer Brigade.
Col. Erwin Victoriano Machica II also took over as the new AFP Judge Advocate General while Col. Ma Dolores Lim took over as the new AFP Chief Nurse.
Machica and Lim replaced Col. Julius Agdeppa and Col. Marilyn Tolentino, respectively, who performed the job of AFP Judge Advocate General and AFP Chief Nurse in acting capacities.
The AFP donned ranks to three newly-promoted generals in ceremonies presided over by AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino at Camp Aguinaldo also last Monday.
