MANILA -- Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief, Lt. Gen. Danilo G. Pamonag formally retired from the military on Tuesday after 35 years in service.
He will be retiring after participating in the two biggest urban battles, Col. Noel Detoyato, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, said in a statement.
Prior to his stint at Solcom, Pamonag led the AFP Special Operations Command.
After working alongside then Joint Task Force Marawi commander retired Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista, he was designated as ground commander in the battle for Marawi City in October 2017.
Pamonag was also ground commander in the defense of Zamboanga City in 2013 against rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front.
He will be replaced in an acting capacity by Major Gen. Gilbert Gapay, concurrent head of the Mechanized Division.
"His outstanding leadership and capacity as a military commander were vital in our defense of Zamboanga City, Marawi City, and the Solcom area of responsibility, which serves as a gateway to our capital and center of political and economic activity," AFP Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, said in a ceremony held at the Solcom Headquarters in Quezon.
"On behalf of every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine, I thank Lt. Gen. Danilo Pamonag for his dedicated service and for his tireless work in defending our country against any threat," Madrigal added, praising Pamonag's accomplishments in suppressing the communist threat in the Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions. (PNA)
