AFP's seasoned intelligence officer is new Southern Tagalog Army Commander

By PA 2ID DPAO September 17, 2020 Change of Command, MGen Greg T Almerol was desig...

By PA 2ID DPAO
September 17, 2020

Change of Command, MGen Greg T Almerol was designated as the new Jungle Fighter's Chief vice MGen Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr who took over as Commander of the Northern Luzon Command on September 7. (Photo: PA 2ID DPAO)

CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – A seasoned intelligence officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assumed command over Army’s 2nd Infantry Division covering CALABARZON Region and MIMARO provinces in a simple change of command ceremony here on Friday.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte designated MGen Greg T Almerol as the new Jungle Fighter's Chief vice MGen Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr who took over as Commander of the Northern Luzon Command on September 7.



Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Commanding General of the Philippine Army presided the formal transfer of authority, responsibility and accountability from MGen Burgos Jr to MGen Almerol.

Lt.Gen. Sobejana in his speech congratulated MGen Burgos for a "job well done in accomplishing your unit's mission in making Southern Tagalog a peaceful and livable place in this part of the country," while encouraging him "to carry on the good deeds in sweeping off the remaining NPA terrorists in the northern part of Luzon."



It ca be recalled that under the sterling leadership of MGen Burgos, 2ID has pushed insurgency in Southern Tagalog on the verge of irrecoverable defeat and is just awaiting for the formal declaration of dismantling of the Guerilla Front Cesar, the second NPA front under the STRPC to be dismantled in two years following GF Honda which 202nd Infantry Brigade dismantled in 2019 when MGen Burgos was then its Brigade Commander.

Lt.Gen. Sobejana urged the new Jungle Fighter Commander to “make a final push in winning over our enemies which keeps on hampering our potential as a nation while ensuring iron-clad relationship between and among the different partner agencies in implementing PRRDs directive so that much coveted peace will soon have its place to every Filipino whom we have sworn to serve.”

He ended his remarks by wishing MGen Almerol “all the best as you continue to lead the Jungle Fighters in fulfilling its mandate as advocates of peace, servants of the people and defenders of Southern Tagalog.”

A “Distinguished Service Star interim to Philippine Legion of Honor” was conferred to MGen Burgos Jr for valuable and meritorious achievements in a position of major responsibility.

MGen Burgos in his relinquishment speech expressed his “utmost gratitude to the Jungle Fighters as well as to our stakeholders for the unwavering dedication to duty and unparalleled support which they extended upon him during his stint as the Division Commander."

He attributed his success as Commander to his “hardworking and brave officers and men as well as to the people of Southern Tagalog's collective desire to end insurgency and poverty which made things happen for the government, for the people and for the regions under my command as a whole.”

Meanwhile, MGen Almerol, a native of Cagayan De Oro and a graduate of Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989, was the AFP’s assistant chief of staff for intelligence prior his designation as the 40th Commander of the 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division.

MGen Almerol is committed to “sustain what the 2nd Infantry Division has achieved and will further increase our operational tempo in an urgent manner so that peace may finally be won and our constituents will begin living the prosperous life that every Filipino truly deserves.”

He was a graduate of Masters in Public Management Major in Development Security and a recipient of various awards such as military merit medals with bronze spearhead device, bronze cross medals, military civic action medals, long service medal and distinguished service star among others.

He vowed that his “soldiers will always here to protect as a friend, sibling and partner of our constituents, government agencies and the general public as we pursue the goals of every peace-loving citizen” while addressing the few remaining NPAs to “speak with the government and cooperate to the nation’s call for unity and reconciliation or choose to suffer tragic ends which peace spoilers are destined to meet.”

Per military records, MGen Almerol spent most of his 31 years of service as an intelligence officer and was involved in some of the recent high-profile accomplishments in the Army and the AFP as a whole. (PIA-4A/PA 2ID DPAO)