The new commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID) based in Jamindan, Capiz will assume office starting tomorrow.

Army Major General Benedict Arevalo, the former commander of 301st Infantry Brigade based in Camp Hernandez, Dingle, Iloilo and 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Negros Occidental, will take over after several days that Brigadier General Noel Baluyan served as an acting division commander following the retirement of former 3ID commander Major General Eric Vinoya on September 6.

Baluyan will be back to his former assignment as assistant division commander.

“Our new 3ID chief is not new in this area and he has been assigned here for 10 years and he masters the terrain in Panay and Negros islands,” Major General Cenon Pancito III, outgoing 3ID spokesperson, said.

Arevalo, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1990, is a native of Manila but he has roots in Iloilo, thus he is fluent in speaking Hiligaynon

He started his military career with the 3ID as tactical officer of then 3rd Division Training Unit from October 16, 2020 to February 16, 2021 and also served as Delta Company Executive Officer, Delta Platoon Leader, and Delta Company commander of the defunct 71st Infantry Battalion (71IB) in early 1990s.

He used to be an operations officer of the 71IB from 1992 to 1994 and also once served as the 3ID’s intelligence and operation officer.

As the new 3ID commander, Arevalo will focus on the dismantling of New People’s Army (NPA) guerilla fronts in Panay and Negros islands./WDJ