MANILA — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jessie D. Dellosa named on Sunday three senior officers to new military posts.
Brig. Gen. Roland C. Amarille, Col. Carlos F. Quita, and Col. Felicito Virgilio M. Trinidad were designated to vital positions, including in the peace mechanism for the Government of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation front (GPH-MILF) talks.
Amarille is the new chairman of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), a bilateral committee that allows the government’s security authorities to conduct law enforcement operations in the far-flung areas of Mindanao.
This post was vacated by Brig. Gen. Allan Luga who is now the 7th Infantry Division commander of the Philippine Army.
A known advocate of the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan, Amarille was previously the assistant commander of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division and commander of Task Force Makalintad (Maranao word for peace) where he was at the forefront in disaster response and relief operations following the devastation of tropical storm "Sendong" in Mindanao last December.
He also led the joint Philippine Army and Philippine National Police troops that rescued in November last year the two remaining Koreans abducted in Lanao. He is a highly decorated officer and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Star and several Military Merit Medals.
On the other hand, Quita will assume as commandant of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) vacated by Brig. Gen. Maximo G. Caro who was named as the new chief of staff of the Philippine Army.
Quita was formerly the commander of 203rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, based in Mindoro. He was also the assistant chief of staff for Operations (G3) of the Army.
He received several outstanding awards, including three Bronze Cross Medals and three Distinguished Service Stars. He attended the 9th Executive Course on National Security, as well as the Command and General Staff Course.
Trinidad is the new Ist ID assistant commander. His previous post was commander of 702nd Brigade and assistant chief of Staff for Plans of the Philippine Army.
Among the awards he received were two Gold Cross Medals, two Bronze Cross Medals, and Distinguished Service Stars.
Dellosa lauded the designation of these three officers, citing the importance of their previous positions as well as their “experiences in their career that can be of great use on their new tasks at hand.”
“These officers have performed creditably well and undoubtedly made significant contributions to the achievement of the goals of the IPSP Bayanihan. I’m sure that in their new posts, they would contribute more and be effective instruments of peace and development,” Dellosa added. (PNA)
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