THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has installed a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1990 Bigkis-Lahi as the new commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Major General Roy Galido was installed as the new Westmincom chief replacing his classmante, newly promoted Major General Arturo Rojas, in a ceremony Friday, January 20, at the gymnasium of Camp Don Basilio Navarro that houses the Westmincom headquarters in Zamboanga City.

General Andres Centino, AFP chief-of-staff, who lead the change of command ceremony, urged the officers and men to extend support to Galido the way they did to Rojas.

Galido said he will focus in the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms to attain peace.

“If we want peace, we have to remove the main tool of violence, which is the firearms,” Galido added.

Galido said the Westmincom, under his leadership, will work together with the Philippine National Police in eradicating loose firearms.

He said he will continue to implement the programs of the command to sustain the gains of his predecessor.

Rojas expressed his gratitude to the officers and men of the command for the support and cooperation given him during his stint as acting commander of Westmincom.

He has served as the acting commander of Westmincom for three months and 15 days.

Rojas will be assigned as the new commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Special Operations Command based in Fort Magsaysay in Cabanatuan City. (SunStar Zamboanga)