MANILA, Philippines - A military officer credited for the success of anti-insurgency operations in the Bicol Region has been named civil relations chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class ’84, succeeded Brig. Gen. Romeo Gan, who was appointed chief of the 2nd Infantry Division.
Kakilala was former chief of the Office of the Strategic Studies and Strategy Management and served as commander of the 45th Infantry Battalion and the 903rd Infantry Brigade. It was during his stint at the 903rd IB when eight communist rebels, including National Democratic Front spokesman Frankie Joe Soriano, were killed in an encounter in Juab, Sorsogon last year.
Kakilala was among the recipients of the 10 Outstanding Philippine Soldiers award in 2008.