MANILA, Philippines-A mistah of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the Philippine Military Class 1978 took over the helm of the Armed Forces’ National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) Friday.

Major General Reynaldo Mapagu replaced Major Jogy Leo Fojas, who reached the retirement age of 56 for military officers, as chief of the 1,300-strong NCRCom in a simple rites in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

In his speech, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado commended Fojas for leading the military’s rescue and relief operations when Metro Manila was ravaged by recent typhoons.

“General Fojas’ accomplishments are too many to mention in detail. Suffice it to say that as NCRCom commander, he has led the command in securing the country’s premier region,” Ibrado said of his classmate in PMA Class 1976.

Before his new designation, Mapagu headed the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

Mapagu was a member of the same PMA class that made Ms Arroyo as its adopted mistah.