• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The new commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade has been ordered to eliminate the remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in northern and central Negros.
“The first order of the day for you is to find, fix, and finish the remnants of the KR-NCBS (Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor. Nothing more, nothing less,” Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, ordered Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog.
Dumosmog succeeded Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin during the turn-over of command held at Camp Maj. Nelson Gerona in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Nov. 5.
Edralin turns 57 on Nov. 8, which is the mandatory age of retirement for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Sison commended Edralin for his leadership, noting the 303rd Infantry Brigade’s successful completion of 10 major engagements, solidifying its reputation as the “Fightingest Brigade” of the Philippine Army last year.
He also challenged Dumosmog to continue the fight, urging all personnel of the 303rd Infantry Brigade to extend the same support to Dumosmog that they had given to their previous commander.
“We cannot rest on our laurels because there are still remnants to be taken care of. Our fight is not yet over, so let us not relax. Let us not give the communist- terrorist group the chance to resurge, Sison said.
He added: “Let us not give them a chance to breathe. Let us not give them any space. Let us not give them the time to rise up. We are almost there and we are 95 percent victorious”.
Dumusmog said that he is ready to take on the challenge.
Negros Island has been declared under a status of stable internal peace and security during the stint of Edralin as the 303rd Infantry Brigade commander. | GB
