AS HE is set to relinquish command, newly promoted Major General Arturo Rojas, acting commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), paid an exit call to Basilan Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman at the Basilan Provincial Capitol on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.

Rojas also made his final visit to the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade headquarters in Tabiawan village, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan on the same day.

Rojas will relinquish command Friday, January 20, in a ceremony that will be held at Camp Don Basilio Navarro that houses the Westmincom headquarters in this southern port city.

“Before I turn over my post to my successor, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to Governor Salliman for being one of the active supporters of Westmincom and for generously helping the command during my term,” Rojas said.

“My appreciation goes out to all our partners and stakeholders for their unfailing trust and support to the Westmincom then and now,” Rojas added.

Rojas will be replaced by Major General Roy Galido, the current commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Rojas will be assigned as the new commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s Special Operations Command based in Fort Magsaysay, Cabanatuan City.

During his visit to Basilan, Rojas was accompanied by Colonel Elmer Suderio, chief of Unified Command Staff; Colonel Yasser Bara, assistant chief of Unified Command Staff for Intelligence; Colonel Wendell Basat, assistant chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations; Colonel Rogelio Gabi, assistant chief of Unified Command Staff for Operations; and, Lieutenant Colonel Abdurasad Sirahan, chief of the Public Information Office. (SunStar Zamboanga)