CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City-Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista lauded Monday erstwhile Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) head Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. for being able to accomplish the decades-old dream of having all provinces in Regions 1,2, 3 and Cordillera be declared insurgency-free.
“With General Catapang at the helm of NOLCOM, Northern Luzon was declared peaceful and ready for further development. By his leadership and development programs, we have emerged victorious against armed insurgency. His leadership has resulted into the realization that peace is achievable and that peace is necessary for development. With this, much work still lie ahead,” Bautista said during the turn of command rites.
“Likewise, General Catapang strengthened his command’s capacity to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response. He also forged partnerships and enduring friendships with our stakeholders under the Internal Peace and Security Plan-Bayanihan and helped in the rebuilding of indigenous communities that have been affected by armed conflict,” Bautista added.
Catapang, who was promoted as Vice Chief of Staff of the AFP, was replaced by Major General Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, Trinidad previously served as Commander of the Army 1st Infantry Division.
He was the overall ground commander during the 2013 defense of Zamboanga City against rogue elements of the Moro National Liberation Front.
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