Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal has designated a military strategist in Eastern Mindanao to boost peace and security in the region, particularly in fighting terrorists and insurgents.
Madrigal said Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., former commander of the 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, will assume office as the new commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command on Monday, coinciding with the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite.
Santos was branded as a “strategist” by his peers in the military due to his immense contribution in critical aspects of the AFP’s mandate, especially in dealing with peace and security in the country, particularly in Mindanao.
“Major Gen. Santos is not new in the Mindanao situation. He is adept in wide-ranging peace and security programs not only in Mindanao but in the whole country, having been assigned with the strategic offices of the AFP dealing with operations, intelligence and civil-military operations,” Madrigal said.
Santos once headed the 11th Intelligence Service Unit based in Davao City and subsequently became the Group Commander of the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine Army.
Santos was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1986. Shortly, after his graduation, he assumed as commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion, a unit with jurisdiction in various provinces of Mindanao.
“Aside from operations and intelligence, his experience in civil-military operations having been assigned to the Civil Relations Service of AFP and having previously headed the Civil Military Operations Group of the Philippine Army, is expected to boost the peace and security effort in Eastern Mindanao, more so in the advent of the implementation of Executive Order 70 which institutionalize ‘whole of nation approach’ in fighting insurgency in the country,” Madrigal said.