Sayyaf hunter is new Westmincom chief

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An Army Scout Ranger officer, a veteran in operations against Abu Sayyaf bandits, will take over as Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief. 

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, commander of the 6th Army Division, will assume the post from Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz at ceremonies to be held at Camp Don Basilio Navarro today. 

De la Cruz will take over as inspector general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 

Galvez is a former ground officer of the Army Scout Rangers tasked to go after Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan. He led the 104th Army Brigade and was named deputy operations chief of the AFP before he headed the 6th Army Division.