62nd IB commander relieved from post

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Lieutenant Col. Eduardo Gubat yesterday confirmed that he was relieved as commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion effective Wednesday and will be replaced by Col. Jose Ely Alberto today.

Gubat said he will be transferred to the 303rd Infantry Brigade headquarters at Brgy. Minoyan in Murcia town as its executive officer and chief of staff.

The turnover rites today will be done at the 62nd IB headquarters at Brgy. Bato in Sagay City, he said.

"It was the wisdom of the higher headquarters, which saw the need for vigor and dynamism in the operations in the area," Gubat said of his transfer.

He served the post for 11 months, and he described it as "satisfying experience with a sense of achievement."

Alberto, his successor, on the other hand, had just relinquished his command as head of Task Force Cotabato.

Gubat's relief came in the wake of a series of NPA initiated activities in northern Negros, one of which was the recent raid conducted in a fish farm owned by a nephew of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr.

About 20 armed NPA rebels carted away numerous firearms from the fish farm. During Gubat's stint, NPA rebels also burned two farm tractors in E.B. Magalona town.

Gubat's relief also came almost a month after 303rd Brigade commander, Col. Francisco Patrimonio, was also transferred to the 302nd Brigade in Negros Oriental. — THE FREEMAN