COTABATO CITY — The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), a bastion of defense against terrorism, insurgency and external threats, received its new commander on Tuesday in Army Maj. Gen. Steve D. Crespillo.
Mr. Crespillo took over the command in a ceremony led by Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. and held at the WestMinCom headquarters in Calarian, Zamboanga City. He replaces Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido, who has been appointed commander of the Philippine Army by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Having served as the G-3 or operations officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in the past, Mr. Crespillo is no stranger to the Bangsamoro region and the intricacies of the Mindanao peace process.
Local officials, among them Bangsamoro Labor Minister Muslimin G. Sema, Basilan Gov. Jim H. Saliman and parliament member Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr., expressed support for his leadership of the WestMinCom. — John Felix M. Unson
