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(L-R)
BGen Wilson M. Leyva AFP; LtGen Nicanor M. Vivar AFP, Commander,
Central Command AFP; MGen Jet B. Velarmino AFP, Commander 8ID
PA; and Col. Leoncio A. Ciruray Jr., incoming Commander of 801st
Bde, during the Change of Command Ceremony on February 2 at 8ID
Grandstand. |
Army installs new
commander for 801st Infantry Brigade
By DPAO, 8ID PA
February 2, 2015
CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City – The Philippine Army installed Col. Leoncio A.
Cirunay Jr. as the new Commander of 801st Infantry Brigade in a
Change-of-Command Ceremony conducted at Headquarters 8th Infantry
Division on February 2, 2015 in Catbalogan City.
Col. Cirunay succeeded BGen.
Wilson M. Leyva, who is compulsory retiring from the military service.
He took over the helm of an Army unit that covers the provinces of
Samar and Eastern Samar. Prior to taking the helm of 801st Infantry
Brigade, Cirunay was the Deputy Brigade Commander of Lumban, Laguna
based 202nd Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine
Army.
The installation of Cirunay
was presided by Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, Commander of the 8th
Infantry Division, Philippine Army. It was also graced by Lt Gen
Nicanor M. Vivar, Commander of Central Command (CentCom), Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP); BGen. Vic C. Castro, Deputy CentCom; Rev.
Fr. Ferdinand Figueroa, Parish Priest of St Bartholomew Parish of
Catbalogan City; Ms. Imelda Bonifacio, OPAPP Area Manager; Ms.
Christine Caidic, President, 8ID Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board; Hon.
Melissa Dela Cruz, Mayor of Matuguinao Samar; Hon. Vaughn Zosa, Board
Member of Samar Province representing Gov. Sharee Ann Tan; and Hon.
Bethoveen Bermejo, Councilor of Catbalogan City, representing Mayor
Stephanie Uy-Tan.
Relatedly, Leyva was given a
traditional testimonial parade and review in honor of his 31 years of
the honorable service to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Velarmino in his message acknowledged the contribution of Leyva to the
relative peace that Samar and Eastern Samar provinces is now
experiencing, at the same time, he challenged Cirunay to continue the
plans and programs initiated by Leyva that fit the current situation
and work hard towards the realization of "Insurgency Free" Samar and
Eastern Samar provinces.
It can be recalled that
Samar and Eastern Samar were declared as Peaceful and Ready for
Further Development (PRFD) Provinces in March 2013 and December 2014
respectively.
The PRFD status is one step
below the insurgency-free category.
“With Col. Cirunay as the
new Commander of 801s Infantry Brigade, I know it is in good hands as
I am aware of his past designations where he performed well. I know he
will do the same in the duties and obligations that he is assigned
with right now", Velarmino said.
