by: Gideon C. Corgue
In his keynote speech during the 42nd change of command ceremony at the Tabak grandstand, Camp major Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said ‘with the assumption of BGen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, we are full of optimism that the 1st Infantry TABAK division will soar to greater heights.
BGen. Ricardo Renier Cruz III, the former brigade commander and assistant division commander of 10th Infantry division was formally installed as the new commander of the premiere division of Philippine Army vice MajGen. Noel A. Coballes who was also installed as the new Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) chief with Bautista as the administering officer.
Bautista said managing the command will inevitably experience burden to ensure that the priority thrusts of the agency will be carried out.
“The privilege of command comes with the burden to ensure that our priority trusts are fully carried out as you preserve the Philippine Army’s accomplishments in your area of responsibility,” Bautista said.
“With your experience and competence, leadership and perspective, I trust that you will able to harness the resources of the 1st Infantry (TABAK) division and deliver the kind of service that the higher command and our stakeholders expect,” Baustista challenged.
Meanwhile, Cruz said he has mixed feeling of gladness and trepidation when he accepted the leadership of the command.
“With all modesty, I confess that as I accept this symbol of leadership over this command, I have a mixed feeling of gladness and trepidation,” Cruz said. “I am glad because of the rare opportunity given to me to take command of an infantry division, and not just an ordinary division but of a very prestigious division. And on the other hand, I have a feeling of trepidation because I know that this designation is not without high expectations; not without challenges and not without great responsibility,” Cruz added.
Cruz said that as the new commander of the 1st division he is now facing a challenge.
“The challenge I am facing now is to ensure that we sustain the division’s gains, enhance our distinct advantage over our adversaries and maintain the initiative. We need to work harder to further improve the peace and order situation, so progress will continue unhampered,” Cruz stressed.
The new Tabak commander thanked his predecessor for laying the groundwork that he will follow.
“My endless thanks to my predecessor, my snappy Mistah, MajGen. Coballes for laying the groundwork that I will earnestly follow. As my immediate boss at the WESMINCOM, I commit the 1st Infantry division’s unrelenting efforts to attain the goals set by the said command,” Cruz said.
He said Coballes’s sterling accomplishments will serve as their motivation.
“Your excellent accomplishments will serve as our motivation and inspiration to do even better and achieve greater heights,” said.
Cruz said that in managing the command he has a great sense of confidence saying that the division has high caliber and dedicated team that will work with him in preserving the already established peaceful environment. (JPA/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)
