Ex-PA spokesperson calls Lucero seasoned field commander

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 4): Ex-PA spokesperson calls Lucero seasoned field commander

The remains of Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero, 1st Infantry Division commander who died after suffering from an apparent heart attack shortly after diving Sunday, was flown to Manila from Pagadian City Tuesday morning.

"The (Lockheed) C-130 "Hercules" cargo aircraft carrying Brig. Gen. Lucero's remains left Pagadian City around 8:30 a.m. It is headed for Villamor Air Base, Pasay City," Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said.

Shortly after arrival around noon, the body will be transported to the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City for viewing.

Lucero had just finished diving off Tuluran Beach, Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur when he complained of dizziness and collapsed around 1:55 p.m.

He passed away at the Mendero Hospital in Pagadian City. The military official, 54, was a member of Philippine Military Academy "Matikas" Class of 1983.

Lucero, appointed to head the 1st Infantry Division only last April 22, headed the 1002nd Infantry Brigade before assuming command of the latter unit.

As former battalion commander based in Basilan, Lucero led the assault against the Abu Sayyaf bandits in May 2001 for kidnapping more than 20 Filipino and foreign tourists from Dos Palmas in Palawan.

 

Meanwhile, former Army spokesperson, Maj. Harold Cabunoc, paid tribute to Lucero, calling the latter one of the most respected and seasoned field commanders in the Philippine Army.

 

Cabunoc, now the commanding officer of 7th Civil Relations Group based in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, served as PA spokesperson from 2009 until early 2013.

"The Army has lost a respected and seasoned field commander in the (passing) of Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero," he added.

Cabunoc also said Lucero, whom he fondly called "Sir Dan", is a hands-on leader.

"A soft-spoken officer who had been to countless battles against terrorists and bandits in Southern Mindanao since his younger days, he was among the best officers the Army has ever produced," he added.

Cabunoc added Lucero was the first member of the Philippine Military Academy "Matikas" Class of 1983 to be appointed as a division commander.

"A well-rounded officer, he holds a Masters Degrees from the University of the Philippines.

He obtained a degree in International Relations from the Australian National University," he pointed out.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=530865