THE 39TH INFANTRY Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division welcomed its new commander through a change of command ceremony at its headquarters in Poblacion Makilala, North Cotabato, on Aug. 21.
Major General Jose Eriel M. Niembra, 10ID division commander, presided over the ceremony where Lieutenant Colonel Ezra L. Balagtey relinquished his command to Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Fer S. Solamo as the 39IB’s commanding officer.
In his message, Balagtey thanked the 39IB personnel for their cooperation and support. He also acknowledged all the efforts of past commanders and the contributions of each stakeholder in making the command’s area of responsibility insurgency-free.
In his speech, Solamo vowed to lead the 39IB personnel to achieve its mission to secure the community and bring the government closer to the people while also adhering to International Humanitarian Law.
Meanwhile, Niembra lauded Balagtey for his effective and efficient leadership during his two-year stint in the unit. Also, he emphasized the importance of continuing the battalion’s civil-military operations to connect more to the communities they serve.
Moreover, Niembra advised the newly installed battalion commander to use all resources at his disposal to achieve the unit’s mission and continue to demonstrate excellent performance in sustaining the peace gains.
