New Solcom chief named

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal. Photo from Army’s 4th Infantry Division

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, has been appointed as the incoming commander of the Southern Luzon Command.

He will assume the post on Friday at Solcom headquarters in Camp Guillermo Nakar in Quezon.

Madrigal, a member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Sandiwa’ Class of 1985, will replace Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Quidilla who is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the appointment orders last week.

Madrigal said he wants to work on increased engagement with stakeholders and will continue the campaign against communist rebels started by his predecessors.

“Basically remnants na lang sila (communist rebels). Ang importante ‘yung atmosphere ng development makikita,” he said.

(Basically, the (existing communist rebels) are just remnants. What’s important is we see an atmosphere of development.)

Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, chief of the Intelligence Service, will replace Madrigal as commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro, which holds jurisdiction over parts of Northern Mindanao.

Villanueva is also from PMA Class of 1985. IDL