82nd IB in Panay has new commander

MIAG-AO, ILOILO, Philippines – The 82nd Infantry (Bantay Laya) Battalion, based at Camp Tan Pedro Nacionales Monteclaro in this town, will have Lt. Col. Aldwin Almase as its new commander.

Almase will succeed Lt. Col. Julius Miranda during a change of command ceremony to be held in the morning today.

Miranda, after serving more than a year as head of the 82nd IB, will assume a position of higher responsibility.

Almase, the assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, will become the fourth commander of the 82nd IB.

Almase was a consistent topnotcher graduating number 4 (number 2 in the Army of his class) as member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992. He finished number 5 in his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and on top of the class in his master’s degree in Public Management Major in Development and Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines.

He was also a graduate of several military and civilian schoolings, including the Executive Seminar on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law from the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies. He graduated number 2 from his Infantry Officer Basic Course and number 5 from his Infantry Officer Advance Course.

A decorated military officer and veteran of the Mindanao peace and security operations, Almase is a recipient of various medals and commendations such as the Gold Cross Medal, Bronze Cross Medal, Military Merit Medal, Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal, Mindanao Sulu Campaign medal and ribbon.

Major Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., 3rd ID Commander said the 82nd IB will always be looked upon with high regard and relevance for the peace of Panay island and Almase’s extensive knowledge on peace and development will definitely continue to steer the battalion to this end.

The 82nd IB, covering the provinces of Iloilo and Antique, was organized in May 2009 to augment the peace and security operations in those parts of Panay island. (FREEMAN)