NEW NEGROS ISLAND ARMY COMMANDER. Brigadier General Dinoh Dolina (center), commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, witnesses the turnover of command from Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes (left) to Colonel Alberto Desoyo as head of the 303rd Infantry Brigade in rites held at Camp Major Nelson Gerona in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 31, 2018). (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
MURCIA, Negros Occidental -- Colonel Alberto Desoyo assumed as commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Island during the change of command held at the headquarters in Barangay Minoyan here Thursday.
Desoyo, previously chief of staff of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, succeeded Brig. Gen. Eliezer Losañes, whose tour of duty in Negros lasted for about a year and a half.
“Today (Thursday), as I assume command of the Brown Eagle Brigade I cannot help but feel honored to be welcomed by all the combat support and its service unit commanders, and by no less than three fighting battalions,” the new brigade chief said in his message after receiving the unit colors from Brigadier General Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Gayas of the 3rd Infantry Division read the relief and designation orders of Losañes and Desoyo, respectively.
Desoyo is no stranger to Negros Occidental as he served as commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) headquartered in Barangay Bato, Sagay City in 2008.
At present, the 62nd IB remains as one of the three battalions under the 303rd Brigade along with the 15th IB in Cauayan, Negros Occidental and the 79th IB in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
Desoyo, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class 1989, said he never expected to be back and be given the chance to serve the people of Negros anew.
“I was thinking then that I will be retiring in Samar. Pero narito po akong muli at dahil diyan, ipinapangako ko na gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para magampanan ang trabahong ito at naniniwala ako na sa ating pagtutulong-tulong ay gagaan ang anuman nating trabaho. (But now I’m back and I promise to do everything I can do to fulfill my duties, and I believe that with us working together, our jobs would be easier). Some of jobs may be difficult. Yes, difficult but not impossible,” he added.
Meanwhile, from Negros, Losañes will join the 8th Infantry Division as assistant division commander.
He said that he is greatly honored and grateful to relinquish his command, citing the boosting of the troops’ morale and introducing initiatives to improve the well-being of soldiers as his most important accomplishment.
For his part, Dolina urged the Negrense stakeholders to show Desoyo the same support they gave to Losañes.
“We really need your support to accomplish our mission,” he added. (PNA)
