• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Major General Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, has been honored by regional and provincial leaders for his outstanding contributions to peace and public safety in Western Visayas.
Samson, a Bacolodnon, received high commendations from both the Iloilo Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-6 during the formal recognition rites and flag raising ceremony at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds on Monday, July 13.
He is set to officially retire from the military service on July 15, concluding a distinguished career spanning more than three decades.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., who chairs the RPOC-6, presented Samson with a certificate of commendation, praising his steady commitment to public service.
Before rising to command the 3rd Infantry Division, Samson was heavily rooted in local defense operations, having previously served as both deputy and acting commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Negros Occidental.
In his valedictory address, Samson deflected the credit to his troops and the local community, emphasizing that security is a collective effort.
“This recognition belongs not to me alone, but to every soldier who served with honor, every public servant who chose cooperation over division, and every Ilonggo who believed that peace is the foundation of progress,” Samson said. | GPB
