Battle-tested Scout Ranger takes over AFP civil-military ops

Army Scout Rangers on parade. FILE PHOTO

Maj. Gen. Rene Glen Paje, former commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, has been designated as the deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7).

Paje replaced Maj. Gen. Melquiades Feliciano, who retired last month.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, Paje led the Scout Rangers during the Marawi siege, the biggest crisis of the military in recent years.

A change of command ceremony was held on Wednesday at the J7 headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo.

Insiders said Col. William Gonzales, Army’s deputy chief for Education and Training, will replace Paje as commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment.

Newly-promoted generals

Paje, who was promoted from Brigadier General, was among the commanders who donned their new ranks in a ceremony on Thursday in Camp Aguinaldo.

Those promoted to Lieutenant General were Maj. Gen Paul Atal, Commander of the AFP Central Command, Maj Gen Danilo Pamonag, Commander of the Southern Luzon Command, the AFP Public Affairs said in a statement.

Promoted to Major General were BGen Fernando Trinidad, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2; BGen Rene Glen Paje, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7; and BGen Jose Antonio Carlos Motril, Chief of the AFP Human Rights Office.

Colonel Joseph Villanueva, the Head of the Headquarters Academics Group, Philippine Military Academy is promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the ad-interim appointment of the generals last Dec. 18. /cbb