THE 1st Infantry Division (ID) has reshuffled some of its key officers as the command strengthens its mission against lawless elements in its area of jurisdiction.
The reshuffle involves the 55th Infantry Battalion (IB), 1st Civil-Military Operations Battalion (CMOBn) and 1ID’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training.
Lieutenant Colonel Don Villanueva, the 1st CMOBn commander, was installed as the new 55IB commander in a change of command ceremony on Wednesday, February 2.
Villanueva relinquished his commander to Lieutenant Colonel Abdelhalim Sakilan on Tuesday, February 1.
Villanueva replaced Lieutenant Colonel Franco Raphael Alano, who was assigned as the new 1ID’s assistant chief of staff for education and training, replacing Major Garry Cruzado.
Major General Generoso Ponio, 1ID commander, presided over the change of command ceremony between Villanueva and Alano.
Villanueva expressed his profound gratitude to Ponio for the trust and confidence in entrusting 55IB under his leadership.
“As I assume responsibility in this battalion, I pledge my sincerest dedication and commitment to duty to accomplish the task,” Villanueva said.
“Under my watch, expect that the men and women of this battalion will execute our tasks with excellence and pride,” he added.
Ponio awarded a Military Merit Medal to Alano for his numerous accomplishments. Alano served as 55IB commander for two years.
Ponio noted that Alano led the 55IB in confronting the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group and the Ace and Crackers Companies of SRC-5, North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the New People’s Army.
“During his (Alano) stint as Battalion Commander, the threat capability of the enemy was reduced drastically,” Ponio said.
On December 17, 2021, the 55IB under the leadership of Alano was conferred the Proficient Status under the Army Governance Pathway with Silver Trailblazer Award.
Likewise, it was given an Excellent rating of 97.89 percent during the Division’s Inspector General Inspection Current Year-2021.
Alano thanked the 55IB troopers for their untiring dedication that was instrumental to the significant improvements of the unit, the brigade commanders who supported the battalion during the conduct of combat operations, and the local chief executives for their invaluable support to the peace and development efforts.
Meanwhile, Ponio lauded the excellent performance of the outgoing Cruzado, especially in the conduct of Career Courses by the 1st Division Training School.
Ponio said Cruzado was instrumental in the conduct of several career courses despite the limitations brought by the health pandemic that greatly increased the training readiness of the 1ID.
He is also certain that the two newly installed senior officers—Villanueva and Alano—will perform their respective duties satisfactorily to accomplish the mission of the 1ID. (SunStar Zamboanga)