Eastmincom, Wescom get new commanders

FILE: In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo announced the appointment of Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal and Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez as the new heads of the Eastmincom and Wescom, respectively. (PNA PHOTO)

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday named new commanders of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) and Western Command (Wescom).

In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo announced the appointment of Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal and Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez as the new heads of the Eastmincom and Wescom, respectively.

“Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal is the new Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) based in Davao City. Lieutenant General Rozzano Briguez will command the Western Command (Wescom) stationed in Palawan,” Arevalo said.

Madrigal and Briguez will be officially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in a ceremony on Monday at the AFP Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City that will be led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Madrigal will replace Brig. Gen. Perfecto Rimando Jr., who served as Eastmincom Acting Commander following the appointment of then Commander Guerrero to the AFP’s top post.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class of 1985, Madrigal is currently the Commander of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom).

Prior to his appointment as SOLCOM Commander, Madrigal held key positions in the Philippine Army such as Commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan De Oro; Assistant Division Commander and later Acting Division Commander of the 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley before becoming the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.

He also held major positions in the AFP General Headquarters as Chief of War Plans Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, OJ5; Secretary Joint Staff, AFP; and Head Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff.

Briguez, meanwhile, is then Vice Commander of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). He will succeed Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar who became PAF’s 35th Commanding General.

A member of PMA “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, Briguez joined PAF and graduated at the top of his class from the PAF Flying School in 1988.

Prior to his stint as PAF Vice Commander, Briguez was former Chief of Air Staff, PAF; Commandant of Cadets, PMA; Deputy Wing Commander, 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Operations, A-3, Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Education and Training, A-8, and Commander, Tactical Operations Group 11.

“The appointments of MGen Madrigal and MGen Briguez signify the progressive nature of the career we chose as soldiers in the military organization. The AFP leadership believes that it has put the right men for the job and that the momentum of each area command will be continued to support our overall mission towards just and lasting peace,” Guerrero noted.