ACTING BRIGADE COMMANDER. Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, the Army's 1st Infantry Division commander (right), led the installation Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II as the acting commander of the Marawi City-based 103rd Infantry Brigade on Friday (Sept. 27, 2019). (Photo courtesy of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II was installed Friday as acting commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City.
Cuerpo, who has been deputy commander of the unit, vowed to uphold the priorities and directions of the previous commanders, as the guide of the unit to maintain the cohesiveness efforts in the pursuit of peace and development in Lanao del Sur.
He replaced Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner who has been assigned as Commandant of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Brawner, who headed the 103rd Infantry Brigade since Dec. 5, 2018, replaced Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro who resigned following the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio by hazing.
Cuerpo has pledged to "vigorously continue" assisting the Task Force Bangon Marawi, the agency tasked with the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the most affected area of Marawi City.
Cuerpo belongs to the PMA Class of 1990, and is an Airborne and Special Forces officer with expertise in operations, intelligence, and managerial acumen.
He is a graduate of Master in Development Management in Asian Institute Management in Makati City, Command and General Staff Course in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Command and General Staff College.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, has congratulated Cuerpo for his designation.
“I am confident that with your leadership experience and dedication to work, you will steer this unit to greater heights,” said Ancan, who installed Cuerpo as the acting 103rd Infantry Brigade commander.
“To the Haribon troopers, let us always act with the utmost professionalism, respect to human rights, rule of law and international humanitarian law. Continue to progress as a professional, capable and responsive officers and leaders of our armed forces,” he added.
He also commended the unit for its aggressive performance in sustaining peace and order in its area of responsibility. (PNA)
