By Mar T. Supnad
NOLCOM, Tarlac City – Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. assumed Monday, September 7, as the 30th commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), covering Ilocos and Central Luzon regions.
Burgos replaced Lieutenant General Ramiro Manuel Rey who retired from the service.
“Rey has carried on NOLCOM’s tradition of excellence in sustaining and securing peace and development in the region,” AFP Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay said during the Change of Command ceremony.
Gapay mentioned Rey’s accomplishments relative to Executive Order No.70 of President Duterte or the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict.
Under Rey, focused military operations have resulted to the end of about 80 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA), surrender of about 1,000 regular NPA members and supporters of the Militia ng Bayan, and recoveries of about 300 firearms.
“All these by upholding humanitarian law and strictly following the rules of engagement which truly exemplify military’s high level of professionalism and respect for human rights,” Gapay emphasized.
He noted the “herculean task” of being the Warden of the North, welcomes Burgos to the responsibility.
“Now, another leader just as competent and worthy is given the responsibility to sustain the accomplishments of this command,” Gapay said.
Burgos is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Maringal” Class of 1988.
Prior to this post, he served as the commander of the 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division of the Philippine Army.
There he pushed the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee’s Guerilla Front Cesar which operates in the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Quezon and Bulacan on the verge of irrevocable defeat.