Army’s top anti-terror unit gets new commander

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Army’s premier counter terrorism unit, the Light Reaction Regiment, has a new commander.

Col. Monico Abang replaced retiring Brig. Gen. Monico Batle in a low-key ceremony presided over by Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay through video teleconferencing on May 1.

Batle, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988, retired after 37 years of military service.

Under his watch, the LRR was able to either capture or kill “significant members” of the homegrown terror group Abu Sayyaf, according to the Philippine Army in a statement.

Some of Batle’s previous assignments included leading the Special Operations Task Group-Western Mindanao, Special Operations Command and Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Special Operations Group, 3rd Special Forces Battalion and Joint Task Group Lawa in Marawi.

Abang, Batle’s deputy commander and successor, is a member of the PMA Class of 1991. He finished training programs on special operations and counter terrorism here and abroad.

He was previously assigned to the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, Eastern Mindanao Command, and General Headquarters.

Edited by TSB