Zamboanga City siege hero named N. Luzon military chief

MANILA, Philippines–One of the heroes of the Zamboanga City siege has been appointed chief of the Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Maj. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., the ground commander of the military and police units that defended Zamboanga from the Moro National Liberation Front assault last year, will formally take his new post Monday in a simple turnover ceremony at Camp Aquino in Tarlac City.

“General Trinidad showed leadership with courage and professionalism during the defense of Zamboanga City,” AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala told the Inquirer over the phone. “The AFP is sure that he will show the same enthusiasm to continue working for peace in northern Luzon,” Zagala said.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, Trinidad replaced Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., who was designated AFP vice chief of staff last month.

Trinidad previously headed the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division, an antiguerrilla unit based in Camp Sang-an, Zamboanga del Sur, which led government forces in subduing MNLF fighters who occupied seaside villages in the provincial capital.

For his role in repelling the Moro rebels, Trinidad was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor (Degree of Commander) during the AFP’s anniversary celebration in December last year.

He was also commander of the 14th Infantry Battalion of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division that was sent to Sulu in 2002 when the military launched offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

From 2005 to 2007, Trinidad was chief of the Directorate for AFP Modernization and the Army Modernization Program Management Office.–Marlon Ramos