New Nolcom chief named

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City – Maj. Gen. Isagani Cachuela, who belongs to Philippine Military Aca­demy Class 1976, took over the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) yesterday, replacing Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang.

New AFP chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano presided over the change of command.

Cachuela faces a tough job of sustaining Nolcom’s gains in its anti-insurgency drive via the Campaign Plan Amihan as part of the military’s effort to reduce the insurgency to an inconsequential level on or before 2010.

During his time, Maclang said Nolcom led all unified commands in the clearing and downgrading of communist guerrilla fronts, with help from local governments.

During the first quarter, Maclang said four guerrilla fronts in Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac were dismantled and five others in Central Luzon were downgraded.

Nolcom’s feat accounts for half of the total enemy fronts declared dismantled and downgraded nationwide.

The other half is credited to the Southern Luzon Command, Central Mindanao Command, Eastern Minda­nao Command, and Western Mindanao Command.  – Ric Sapnu