1st CAV new commander vows to sustain gains of predecessors

By Gideon C. Corgue

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – Lt. Col. Charlemagne Batayola Jr., the new commander of the 1^st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Squadron has expressed his thanks to MGen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz, commander of the 1^st Infantry Mechanized Division, for the trust and confidence given him to lead the unit.

In his message during the change of command ceremony held here over the weekend, Batayola said “as the new commander of the 1^st Cavalry Squadron, is a greatest challenge for me for my predecessor has performed his job exceptionally well in his more than two-year stint in the unit.

Batayola is a graduate the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class 1992 and formerly the assistant chief of staff for personnel, G1 of Mechanized Division at Camp O’Donnel, Capas, Tarlac.

“I am very thankful that you have accorded me your full trust and confidence in leading this unit which is near to your heart,” Batayola said to Dela Cruz.

Batayola assured the mechanized division commander that he will keep in his heart as his bible the command guidance, the higher headquarters’ directives and the Army Transformation Roadmap for him to manage the affairs of the unit in an efficient and effective manner based on reform agenda espoused by the leaders of the 1st Cavalry Squadron.  

He promised to exert his best efforts as he always does in his previous assignments in order to sustain the gains of his predecessors in the unit. “I will take care of my men. I will preserve the good partnership that this unit has with the local governments, civil societies and people of this region.”

Batayola expressed optimism that with the help of men and women of the unit he can continue to contribute substantially to the fulfillment of their organizational transformation and the improvement of the unit’s services to the stakeholders.

“I will encourage my subordinate commanders to draw the line all the time and we will serve as models for the troops and our people, Batayola said.

Meanwile, Lt. Col. Antonio John Divinagracia, the outgoing commander assured the 1^st Cavalry tankers that the unit will have a better commander to lead.

“I assure you that the unit will have a better commander to lead because he is a very good and talented commander. He always excels in our schooling,” Divinagracia said referring to Batayola.