Kalinaw News: 61st Infantry Battalion Gets New Commander

From Kalinaw News (Jun 17, 2021): 61st Infantry Battalion Gets New Commander

CAMP PERALTA, Jamindan, Capiz –The Army’s 61st Infantry “Hunter” Battalion (61IB) welcomes its new Commanding Officer on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Camp Monteclaro in Barangay Igtuba, Miagao, Iloilo.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold Garcia assumed the command of 61IB replacing Colonel Joel Benedict Batara through a traditional change of command ceremony presided by Major General Eric C Vinoya, Commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division.

Prior to his present designation, Lieutenant Colonel Garcia held a position as Executive Officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental. In his message, Major General Vinoya recognized the various accomplishments of Colonel Batara and his unending efforts to lead and supervise the men and women of 61st Infantry Batalion during his stint as its Commanding Officer.

“This unit notably inflicted serious losses to the enemy especially the Southern Front of Komiteng Rehiyon in Panay through series of encounters which resulted to several body counts, numerous captured CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) personalities, firearms, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices in the area of operation,” said Major General Vinoya.

With his meritorious service as Battalion Commander, Colonel Batara was awarded with Military Merit Medal. Likewise, Major General Vinoya challenged the newly-installed Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Garcia to go an extra mile as he led the battalion in continuing its productive efforts and to pursue fresh initiatives to widen the path towards achieving its mission in support to the campaign of 3rd Infantry Division.

“It will not be easy track, but with your utmost dedication, it will bring the best out of you as the Commanding Officer and I expect that you will whole-heartedly accept the accountability, not only in the pursuit of the mission through operations but as well as the manager of the resources this unit has, especially our soldiers,” said Major General Vinoya.

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