Zamboanga has new Army, Marine counterterror chiefs

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The military has intensified security measures in this city by installing new commanders for the Marines and Army counterterrorism units.

The installation of Lt. Col. Joel Atienza as commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 and Col. John Divinagracia as chief of the Joint Task Force Zamboanga (JTFZ) is expected to intensify the military’s campaign against kidnapping  and bomb attacks.

Atienza replaced Lt. Col. Ariel delos Reyes during a ceremony held on Friday.

Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño said the fresh deployment would inspire Marine forces on the ground to continue their security operations.

Meanwhile, Divinagracia is expected to replace anytime this month JTFZ chief Col. Leonel Nicolas, who was promoted as deputy commander of the Army’s First Division.