General who led Army’s elite forces vs Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in 2000 retires

MANILA, Philippines—The commander of the Philippine Army’s elite Special Operations Command (Socom) stepped down from service on Tuesday, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said that Major General Roberto Morales retired from service Tuesday, as he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, in a change of command ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

The Socom counts the Special Forces Regiment, the First Scout Ranger Regiment and the Light Reaction Battalion as its subordinate units.

Morales was also the first commander of the Light Reaction Battalion. During his stint, he successfully led the unit against the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers under Commander Robot and Mujib Susukan in a series of skirmishes in Talipao, Sulu, in September 2000.

Socom Deputy Commander Brigadier General Nicanor Dolojan replaced Morales in an acting capacity.