SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – President Aquino has appointed the chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division (ID), who served as the ground commander during the Zamboanga siege, as the new head of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).
Maj. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr. replaced Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., who was promoted as vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class ’82, Trinidad had also served as commander of the Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion of the 8th ID based in Eastern Samar. He was later transferred to Sulu at the height of the AFPs campaign against Abu Sayyaf and the breakaway groups of the Moro National Liberation Front, the Nolcom information office said.
Trinidad also served as chief of the directorate for AFP modernization and director of the Army modernization program management office.
In recognition of his efforts during the Zamboanga siege, Trinidad was conferred the Legion of Honor award during the AFP’s 78th anniversary celebration.
As Nolcom chief, among the units under his command include the Army’s 5th and 7th IDs, the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, and the Air Force Tactical Operations Groups 1, 2 and 3. – With Ric Sapnu