TF Davao commander completes tour of duty

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 26, 2019): TF Davao commander completes tour of duty

Task Force-Davao (TF Davao) commander, Col. Nolasco Mempin, will complete his tour of duty on Thursday after a two-year stint.

In a text message on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., the commander of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said that Col. Consolito Yecla will replace Mempin.

Yecla is currently the secretary of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Mempin took the post with a big challenge from Mayor Sara Duterte in 2017 when the city was reeling from the Roxas night market bombing.

Mayor Sara directed Mempin to ensure that Davao City remains safe and strive for a “zero bombing” incident.

Mempin said he has fulfilled the challenge.

“For more than one-and-half years as Task Force Davao commander, the objective was attained as the main objective of the Task Force is to keep away the city from any bombing incident,” Mempin said.

Mempin noted that TF Davao's primary reason for its existence is to prevent violent extremists from disturbing the city's peace and order.

Aside from the zero bombing, Mempin also highlighted the effort of Task Force Davao in reaching out to different sectors to help in fulfilling its mandate.

Looking back. Mempin said the job was made especially difficult "considering that it (Davao City) is the home of President Duterte and everybody is looking at the city as a model."

After he departs as TF Davao on Thursday, Mempin will become chief of the Army's 1003rd Infantry Brigade, replacing Brig. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr.

Torres will be assigned as the new deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1065678