Army commander dies in scuba mishap

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  â€“ A Philippine Army commander died yesterday afternoon in an accident while scuba diving in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero was a candidate for the top post of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Capt. Jefferson Somera, spokesman for the 1st Army Division, said the general’s diving gear apparently malfunctioned.

Lucero assumed as chief of the 1st Army Division on April 26 after serving as brigade commander in Lanao.

He was a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ‘83 and was the first among his classmates to be named to a division commander’s post.

Before his assumption as an Army division chief, Lucero was credited for bringing stability in Lanao and Marawi City and neutralizing various rebel and criminal groups composed of drug dealers, illegal loggers, and kidnappers.

 In his early career in the service, he served as company commander in Basilan, leading troops in major operations against the Abu Sayyaf. He then took the battalion post and implemented development programs, particularly in Lamitan and Tuburan towns in Basilan.

Lucero was promoted to the then Southern Command (now Western Mindanao) as civil-military chief before he served as AFP spokesman during the time of AFP chief Gen. Narciso Abaya from April 2003 to October 2004.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Consuelo. The general’s remains are scheduled to be flown to Manila today.