The 61st Infantry Battalion, a field unit of the Capiz-based
3rd Infantry Battalion, was given a new commanding officer in the person of Lt.
Col. Col. Leonardo Peña Monday.
Pena replaced Lt. Col. Victor Llapitan who commanded the
61IB since Sept. 16, 2013.
Peña is a native of Batangas and a graduate of the
Philippine Military Academy Class of 1991.
He is also a graduate of Master of Science in Defense
Analysis (National Security Affairs) in Naval
Post Graduate
School in California ,
and Master in Public Management Major in Development and Security from the Development Academy
of the Philippines
“The command has its full trust and confidence with Lt.Col.
Peña as he assumes command of 61st Infantry Battalion. With his competence and
extensive knowledge in development and security, I am confident that he will
meet or even exceed the expectations of the people in his area of
responsibility especially in implementing the Internal Peace and Security Plan
Bayanihan,” 3rd Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero
said.
He also acknowledged the dedication, sacrifices and
remarkable accomplishments of Llapitan that contributed much to the
accomplishment of the 3rd Infantry Division’s mission.
One of the unit's significant accomplishments was the
successful implementation of the IPSP “Bayanihan” which led to the declaration
of Capiz and Iloilo
Llapitan expressed his thanks to the men and women of the
61st Infantry Battalion as well as the stakeholders of the battalion for the
unwavering support which made him accomplished a lot of the unit’s tasks that
greatly contributed to the accomplishment of 3rd Infantry Division’s mission.
On the other hand, Peña said that he will pursue the best
practices that were started and initiated by his predecessor.
He will ensure that the gains in peace and development in
the battalion’s area of operations will be sustained by working collectively
and collaboratively with the stakeholders.
Among notable accomplishments of 61st Infantry Battalion
during Llapitan's watch include eight encounters with the lawless armed
elements which resulted to the recovery of various war materiel and voluminous
subversive documents of high intelligence value and the discovery of five NPA
temporary encampments; the successful conduct of 67 Bayanihan Team Activities
(BTAs) which resulted to the clearing of 39 out of 42 affected barangays in its
area of operations which further contributed to the area clearing of Capiz and
Iloilo provinces;
The recovery of four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and
numerous of its components which prevented the lawless elements from staging
sabotage against vital projects and installations and from causing harm to
innocent people, and the return of 10 NPA members to the folds of law through
peaceful negotiation.
The battalion was also instrumental in the peaceful conduct
of major activities in Panay such as the Barangay Elections in 2013; the
country’s hosting of APEC 2015 meetings in Boracay and Iloilo City
The Battalion also involved in various programs and
activities such as medical and dental civic action programs, feeding program to
children in far flung barangays, humanitarian assistance and disaster response
operations after the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda, Army Literacy Patrol System
(ALPS) dubbed as “Maestro Sundalo” in coordination with the DepEd’s Alternative
Learning System (ALS), blood-letting activities, environmental protection and
other socio-cultural activities in partnership and collaboration with the
stakeholders who continue to work together with the Philippine Army in the
spirit of Bayanihan in order to attain just and lasting peace.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=817043
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