402nd brigade in Caraga installs new commander
BUTUAN CITY
-- The Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade hosted the Change of Command
Ceremony on Tuesday, July 20, at the headquarters in Barangay Bancasi, this
city.
Major
General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), Philippine
Army presided over the turnover of leadership from the outgoing commander,
Brigadier General Maurito L. Licudine to Colonel Adonis Ariel G. Orio as the
new commander,
Colonel Orio
was installed as the 34th commander of the 402nd Brigade. He is a native of
Cagayan de Oro City and a member of Philippine Military Academy “Tanglaw-Diwa”
Class of 1992.
The new
commander is not new to Caraga Region and in Northern Mindanao since these
areas were among his first assignments as a young 2Lt. way back in 1992. From
then on, he held various positions in the 4ID units from Company Commander,
Battalion Commander of 29th Infantry Battalion and staff at all
levels from tactical to operational military echelons. In total, Col. Orio had
spent 17 years in 4ID area.
In his
assumption speech, Col. Orio said hoped that 402Bde can still obtain warm
support of the LGUs and stakeholders in Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region.
"I count on your help in implementing E.O. No. 70 which institutionalizes
the whole-of-nation approach towards the attainment of inclusive and
sustainable peace through the National Task Force to Ending Local Communist
Armed Conflict to the Regions," he said.
"I am
confident that I can chart more significant gains not for myself but for the
Stingers’ Troopers and the people whom we serve in this area. After all,
this Brigade’s commitment is geared towards peace and development," Col.
Orio added.
He further
called on the active participation of all stakeholders and local chief
executives (LCEs), and the entire populace of the province of Agusan del Norte,
Agusan del Sur, and Misamis Oriental in the march towards the long and
much-desired peace in the Brigade’s area of responsibility.
During the
ceremony, BGen. Licudine was awarded with the Military Merit Medal interim to
Distinguished Service Star Award for his meritorious and invaluable service
rendered in a position of major responsibility as the commander of 402Bde which
effectively addressed the peace and security operation in its area of
responsibility that resulted to the dismantling of Guerilla Front 4A and
Guerilla Front 88 all of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
In his
remarks, BGen. Licudine extended his immense gratitude to the LCEs and
stakeholders that the brigade cannot stand alone and accomplish its mission and
goals without their supports.
“The Brigade
was able to shape its area of responsibility and progress in its campaign. We
have improved the security situation providing our people a secured environment
where they can freely go on with their way of life. This was made possible
because we worked together. I am humbled and grateful for helping us
achieve our mission objectives," BGen. Licudine said.
Also, BGen. Licudine conveyed a message to the newly-installed 402nd Brigade commander. "To my successor, a lot still needs to be done to realize our goal of ending the local communist armed conflict in this part of the country. We are at the endgame of our campaign and time is running out. We have to increase further our operational tempo and put an end to this 52-year old scourge,” BGen. Licudine said. (Cpt. Jonald Romorosa, CMO Officer, 402 Infantry Brigade,PA/PIA-Caraga)
