BECAUSE two of the riskiest places for a soldier to be are Basilan and Sulu, people would most likely agree to Brigadier General Rolando Joselito Bautista’s claim that the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur is the fightingest division today in the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines.
General Bautista declared so during the turnover ceremonies on March 18 in the 1st ID headquarters in Zamboanga del Sur as he took over the post of division commander from Major General Gerardo Barrientos who was retiring from the military service.
I was particularly elated, as I am sure all the local government officials from Basilan there present were, when General Bautista cited the province as “a good template where soldiers and local government units fight side by side against the Abu Sayyaf Group and [in] addressing the root causes of conflict in the area.”
For his part, Major General Barrientos in his impassioned speech also thanked the stakeholders in his area of responsibility for “the wonderful partnership, for the opportunity to serve as [their] soldier and [their] protector” even if to some he might not have been the perfect commander.
Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman and many of the local chief executives of Basilan Province were present in the event, including Mayor Rose Furigay and her husband Vice Mayor Roderick Furgay of Lamitan, Mayor Durie Kallahal of Tuburan and Vice Mayor Cherry Akbar of Isabela City.
Almost all the top military brass who would occupy key positions in the AFP were also present in the important event.
I would like to congratulate my friend, General Bautista, for his accomplishments as the chief of the Presidential Security Group for nine months, for his assumption to his new and more challenging position, and for his future assignments which I heard would not go below the position of Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
I would also like to thank a friend who donated a water refilling station to the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion in Basilan under Ltc. Elmer Suderio.
With these officers at the helm, including Westmincom Commander Major General Carlito Galvez, Basilan and the entire Western Mindanao Command are truly in good hands. BEEN THERE DONE THAT/JOSEPHINE CODILLA
