Army new head for Panay, Guimaras installed

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — It was a homecoming of sorts for the newly-designated Philippine Army commander for Panay and Guimaras islands.

Two decades after, Colonel Benedict Arevalo is now back in Panay, although with a bigger responsibility laid on his shoulders.

Arevalo, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1990, was formally installed as commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade based at Camp Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo during a turnover ceremony Tuesday morning, administered by 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division commander, Major General Dinoh Dolina.

Arevalo succeeded Brigadier General Pio Diñoso, who left the post on May 22 to become deputy chief of staff for Logistics of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo.

A native of Baguio City, Arevalo used to be an intelligence officer of the 302nd Infantry (Achiever) Brigade in Negros Island from 1994-1995 and then 1996-1998. He also acted as intelligence and operations officer of the defunct 3rd ID’s 7th Infantry Battalion from 1992-1994.

Arevalo said that the years he spent as a lieutenant in the areas of the 3rd ID would help in knowing the soldiers and the people. “We’ll continue with our development support activities in the area. We’ll also have assessment of our security situation,” he said referring to the anti-insurgency campaign in this part of the region.

Arevalo said they would still welcome rebels who want to give up the armed struggle. “I hope more would lay down their arms. We always welcome a non-violent way of neutralizing the New People’s Army,” he said.

Arevalo said he would also look into the situation and location of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) to assess if there is a need to add the paramilitary force.

Meanwhile, Arevalo said the 301st Ibde, he now heads, would do its best to attain the target to end the problem of insurgency by 2018. In his assumption speech, he stressed the role of every stakeholder in addressing the insurgency problem.

He likened it to “putting together pieces of broken puzzle that represents each of us who has significant role to resolve the decade-long social problem.” As he expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders, he also asked for their continuous support to the Brigade’s future endeavors. (FREEMAN)