Joint Task Force GenSan, 1002nd Brigade commanders get new heads

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 23): Joint Task Force GenSan, 1002nd Brigade commanders get new heads

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has designated two top Army officials in southern and central Mindanao to lead its security units and operations in the city and neighboring areas. Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID), said Army Colonels Normal Flores and Manuel Ramos are the new commanders of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade and the Joint Task Force GenSan, respectively. He said Flores and Ramos formally assumed their new posts effective last Wednesday following simple turnover rites held at the 1002nd Brigade headquarters in Camp Agaab, Barangay Pulatana in Malungon, Sarangani. Flores replaced Col. Glorioso Miranda, who was assigned as assistant commandant of the AFP Command and General Staff College in Fort Bonifacio. Prior to his new assignment, Flores was commander of the Davao City-based Task Force Davao for nine months. Ramos, on the other hand, replaced Col. Joselito Kakilala, who was designated as the new brigade commander of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade based in Castilla town in Sorsogon. Ramos, who headed the Philippines side of the Combined Armed Forces during the United States-Philippines Balikatan Exercises in 2011, was previously assigned as deputy commander of the 1002nd Brigade. Bernardo lauded Miranda for the 1002nd Brigades accomplishments during his stint as its commander. Among the 1002nd Brigades major accomplishments was the successful conduct of six brigade operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) and local bandit groups operating in the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani and Davao del Sur. Such operations led to the recovery of 67 high-powered firearms, arrest of 46 NPA rebels and bandits as well as the capture of 19 rebel encampments. The brigade also facilitated the surrender of 623 NPA rebels and bandits and their enlistment with the national government’s integration and reconciliation programs. Under Miranda’s leadership, the 1002nd Brigade was able to hand over the lead role of the internal security efforts to the local governments of South Cotabato and Sarangani.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=474086