Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Decorated Army chief named Mindanao military head
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A decorated army commander, who is veteran in the Mindanao anti-insurgency campaign, has been named as the next commander of the Southern Command, replacing Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan, officials said.
Officials said Habacon was nominated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to replace Adan, who retires Wednesday after serving as regional military for about three months.
"General Gabriel Habacon is the next commander of Southcom, and soldiers in the southern Philippines are supporting the new commander," said Major Gamal Hayudini, a spokesman for the Southern Command, the largest military installation outside Manila.
Habacon, the commander of the First Infantry Division, is a member of Class 73 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
He was the former commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Comet based in Jolo island and instrumental in the arrest of many key leaders of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and Rajah Soliman groups, and members of the Jemaah Islamiya.
He was largely credited for the capture of dozens of top New People's Army (NPA) leaders in western Mindanao.
Habacon is known for his being quiet and low profile despite his many accomplishments as regional army commander. Part of his duty in that post was to lead soldiers in the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(January 11, 2006 issue)
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