Cruz assumes command of Eastmincom today

MANILA, Philippines - Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz will assume command of the Davao City-based Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) today.

He will replace Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Eastmincom oversees security in Basilan island and the Zamboanga peninsula.

Replacing Cruz as  Army’s 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division commander is Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero.

Lucero’s replacement as 1002nd Infantry Brigade commander has yet to be named.

Cruz was tasked to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan before becoming spokesman for the Armed Forces.

As former battalion commander based in Basilan, Lucero led the assault against the Abu Sayyaf in May 2001 for kidnapping more than 20 Filipino and foreign tourists from Dos Palmas  in Palawan.

As 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division commander, Lucero will have direct control over military operations in Basilan.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Edgar Fallorina will assume command  of the 1st Air Division with the retirement of Maj. Gen. Ricardo Banayat on Friday.

Fallorina is the deputy commander of the 3rd Air Division and former commander of the 520th Air Base Wing. His post will go to  Col. John Estoesta, deputy commander of the  Air Logistics Command.

Estoesta is handing over his post at LAC to Brig. Gen. Rolando Aquino, commander of the 410th Maintenance Wing.

Aquino’s replacement is yet to be announced.

Brig. Gen. Orlando de Leon, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade based in Sulu, has been designated as the new deputy commander of the Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom).

He replaces Brig. Gen. Elmer Amon, who is moving up the command ladder of the AFP.

Replacing De Leon is Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the Bonifacio Naval Station and former deputy commander of Marine Operations at Naval Forces Western Mindanao.