Sarangani-based 1002nd Brigade has new commander

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 4, 2022): Sarangani-based 1002nd Brigade has new commander (By Che Palicte)

NEW LEADERSHIP. Col. Alexei Musñgi assumes his post as the new commander of the Army’s 1002nd Infantry “Bagwis” Brigade based in Malungon, Sarangani on Thursday (Feb. 3, 2022). He replaced Col. Potenciano Camba who will sit as the incoming deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City. (Photo from 10ID)

The Army’s 1002nd Infantry “Bagwis” Brigade (Bde) based in Malungon, Sarangani, has a new chief, the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) announced Friday.

Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, 10ID spokesperson, said Col. Alexei Musñgi, member of Philippine Military Academy “Maalab” Class of 1993 and former assistant chief of staff for operations, took over the post from Col. Potenciano Camba in a ceremony held at the brigade headquarters in Sitio Pulatana, Barangay Malandag in Malungon on Thursday.

Tito added that Musñgi is also a G3 at the Philippine Army headquarters and holds several special duty army positions.

He is also a former commanding officer of the 48IB, the 7ID in Central Luzon, and chief operations officer of the 6ID based in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Brig. Gen. Allan Hambala, the 10ID acting division commander, said in his speech during the ceremony that with Musñgi’s good service reputation and sterling leadership, the 1002Bde will be in good hands.

"The command has high hopes that under his new leadership,10ID’s mission will be effectively and swiftly be achieved," Hambala said.

He also lauded the leadership of Camba, saying it has resulted in the destruction of communist New People’s Army (NPA) mass bases and allies, the cutting of its extortion schemes, and the reduction of its manpower and firepower.

“It’s apparent that Brig. Gen. Camba and his team have contributed vastly to 10ID’s accomplishment. With his good leadership, competence, combat decisiveness, and initiative, he fully maximized all available Armed Forces of the Philippines’ assets in defeating the enemy and made him achieve far beyond targets and timelines,” Hambala said.

Camba, who will sit as the incoming deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command based in this city, has scored numerous war materiel seizures from the enemy that included 88 recovered and 119 surrendered firearms, and 65 improvised explosive devices (IED).

Under his leadership, the 1002Bde has neutralized 157 regular NPA combatants and facilitated the surrender of 446 Milisyang Bayan, 296 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad, and 4,237 members of the underground mass organizations.

Also, the 1002Bde counter-insurgency campaign efforts have resulted in the dismantling of three NPA units that included the Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) of Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC), and Guerilla Front’s Alip and Tala of the Far South Mindanao Region.

Camba also supervised 334 former rebels (FRs) in eight different deradicalization programs.

Financial livelihood and immediate assistance were also distributed to 1,417 FRs in the provinces of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and North Cotabato.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167057