Madrigal is new Southern Luzon Command chief

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, commander of the Cagayan de Oro-based 4th Infantry Division, has been appointed to head the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM), effective Friday. (Photo By Source, Fair use)

MANILA — Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, commander of the Cagayan de Oro-based 4th Infantry Division, has been appointed to head the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM), effective Friday.

Madrigal was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Quidilla, who is set to retire after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on August 30. Duterte gave the go-ahead for Madrigal’s appointment on the recommendation of the AFP Board of Generals.

Madrigal, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985, assumed command of the 4th Infantry Division in March 2016.

He vowed to increase his operations against rebel groups in southern Luzon with the help of civilians and other peace and order stakeholders.