ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID) based in Jamindan, Capiz has a new commander.
Brigadier General Noel Baluyan, the 3ID assistant division commander, replaced retired Major General Eric Vinoya yesterday.
The change of command ceremony at the 3ID parade ground was spearheaded by Major General Andres Centino, commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Vinoya, 56, was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Class 1987.
The 3ID under him neutralized 3,261 New People’s Army rebels in Central and Western Visayas in 267 combat operations and 83 encounters.
A total of 352 firearms were seized.
Also, 2,886 rebel supporters surrendered.
On the other hand, Baluyan thanked Centino for allowing him to be the “caretaker” of the 3ID for the moment, pending the official orders from the national command authorities.
“It is my great honor to stand before all of you as the acting commander who will follow a great lineage of respectable commanders that championed security and stability, set an example of a committed soldier, and secured a course of peaceful development and progress for nearly five decades in Western and Central Visayas,” Baluyan said.
Baluyan had served as commander of the 302nd Infantry (Achiever) Brigade in Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental./PN
