6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division chief bows out, cites gains in peace process

From the Philippine News Agency (May 26): 6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division chief bows out, cites gains in peace process
 
After serving one year and three months, Army Major General Romeo Gapuz bowed down from military service and as commander of one of the most battle-tested divisions in Mindanao over the weekend.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista graced the occasion.

Gapuz assumed office as 6th Infantry Division in February 2013 and reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 last Saturday.

Gapuz served in the military in the past 35 years and his last few years had been filled with challenges, including heading an Army division which for several decades fought bloody wars with Moro rebels and until last year worked with peace advocates supporting the peace campaign of Malacanang.

During Gapuz watch, the military shifted its mission from military offense to peace advocacy. The Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was signed March this year officially ending Army-MILF skirmishes which for many years claimed numerous lives and displaced millions of civilians.

Gapuz, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, was the second division commander who set foot in the MILF’s main base in Maguindanao following the signing of the CAB.

Gapuz will hand over the leadership of the 6th ID in ceremonies to be held Manday at Camp Siongco, Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao.

Speaking to the officers and men of the 6th ID in a testimonial dinner before bowing out of office, Gapuz said he was grateful that his subordinates extended him full support in advocating peace in its area of jurisdiction.

During the stint of Gapuz since February last year, no single Army-MILF firefight was reported.

Gapuz maintained that during his reign, the 6th ID has adhered to the AFP's principles of accountability and transparency in handling the fiscal and logistical resources of the “Kampilan” division which has jurisdictions over the whole of Maguindanao, part of North Cotabato and part of Sultan Kudarat.

The 6th ID has jurisdictions over 601st, 602nd, 603rd Army brigade and 1st and 2nd Mechanized Infantry brigades and the Philippine Marines deployed in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao coastal communities.

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