From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 18, 2021): 11ID reshuffles key officers to strengthen Sulu anti-terror drive (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)
The Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID) has reshuffled its key officers as the command strengthens its anti-terror campaign in the province of Sulu.
The reshuffle, which took effect Tuesday, involved the 1101st, 1102nd, and 1103rd brigades of the 11ID, also called the Alakdan Division, which is the youngest of all infantry divisions of the Philippine Army.
President Rodrigo Duterte, accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, led the activation on Dec. 17, 2018, of the 11ID, which is dedicated to fighting the Islamic State-affiliated terrorist groups in the region.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, 11ID commander, who led the change of command ceremony, said in a statement Wednesday that Brig. Gen. Antonio Bautista Jr., 1101st Infantry Brigade (Inf Bde) commander, has been reassigned as the 11ID assistant division commander.
Bautista relinquished the command of the 1101st Inf Bde to Col. Eugenio Boquio, the 1103rd Inf Bde commander.
Gonzales noted that during Bautista's 13-month stint as the 1101st Inf Bde commander, he was able to enjoin a total of 99 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits to surrender and return to the folds of the law, demonstrating his competence as a strategic leader.
Brig. Gen. Benjamin Batara, 1102nd Inf Bde commander, turned over his post to Col. Giovani Franza, the 11ID Assistant Division Commander for Retirees and Reservist Affairs.
Batara assumed as the new commander of the 1103rd Inf Bde which was recently created to solidify the military's presence in the province of Sulu.
Under Batara's leadership, the 1102nd Inf Bde troops conducted several successful combat operations. He was also known for his efforts under the Provincial Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict's Balik Barangay Program,
Bautista, Batara, and Boquio were awarded medals during the change of command ceremony, which was graced by Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), as the ceremony’s guest of honor.
The three officers also received command plaques from Vinluan and Gonzales.
Gonzales lauded the new commanders, noting that the repositioning of key leaders is part of an effort to streamline the organization and enhance its services for the people of Sulu.
“Your leadership skills and accomplishments in such a short span of time truly show that only the brightest are assigned and appointed as commanders in this province. Indeed, Sulu is changing for the better. Let us keep working with the local government and other partners for peace. I expect nothing less in this new set-up,” Gonzales said.
Present during the change of command ceremony were leading figures from various sectors to include Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini, who was donned with the rank of an Army Captain as he officially joined the reserve force.
Hayudini, along with other military officers, was also awarded a Bronze Cross Medal -- an award given for heroism involving risk of life.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150825
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