THE Philippine Navy (PN) has assigned a new commander to head its 3rd Boat Attack Division (BAD) based in Naval Station Juan Magluyan in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi.
Lieutenant Senior Grade Chester Ross Cabaltera, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) information officer, said installed as the new chief of the 3BAD is Commander Reynante Ma-ao, who replaced Commander Alvin Almanzor.
Cabaltera said Commander Philip Edward Lamug, chief of staff of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Force (LCF), presided over the turnover of command ceremony held Wednesday, February 23, at the Sailors Clubhouse of Naval Station Juan Magluyan.
Cabaltera said Lamug presented a Military Merit Medal (MMM) from LCF and one Triple M with a Plaque De Merito from NFWM to Almanzor for his invaluable services and contribution in leading the 3BAD to accomplish all given tasks in support to the PN's mission accomplishment.
Lamug congratulated Almanzor for graduating from his command at Sea Tour and welcomed Ma-ao, the 3BAD's new skipper.
Almanzor is a member of the Naval Officer Qualification Course Class 148 while Commander Mao-ao is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Mandarangan" Class of 2003.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that celebrates the changing of the guards.
Cabaltera said deployed in NFWM area of operations, particularly in Tawi-Tawi, 3BAD is the first missile-capable Unit of the PN composed of high-speed Multi-Purpose Attack Craft.
As the vanguard of the sea, the 3BAD accomplished several surface operations like Territorial Defense, Maritime Security and Search and Rescue. (SunStar Zamboanga)