Armor Division Commander Major General Efren Baluyot (Gabriela Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)
SAN JOSE, Tarlac — Armor Division lauded the leadership of 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (3rd Mech Bn) outgoing commander for his significant accomplishments in sustaining peace and order in the unit’s areas of responsibility.
In his speech during the Change of Command Ceremony, Armor Division Commander Major General Efren Baluyot said that Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Henry Cabusao’s efforts steered the unit to excellence, particularly the achievement of a proficient status medal.
“His [Cabusao] stint marks a milestone in its history, 3rd Mech Bn was awarded the Army Governance Pathway (AGP) Proficient status medallion with the silver trailblazer award. The conferment of the AGP proficient award manifested the unit’s proficiency and efficiency in the performance of its mandates that resulted in its very significant and notable accomplishments,” he said.
Under Cabusao’s leadership, the battalion has conducted 2,600 combat operations, 2,196 tactical operations, and 3,207 non-tactical operations.
The unit, along with 703rd Infantry Brigade and Philippine National Police, facilitated the neutralization and cooptation of 119 communist terrorist group (CTG) members and supporters.
Relative to this, about three high powered firearms, a hand grenade, assorted ammunition, medical paraphernalia, and subversive CTG documents were surrendered.
To further enhance the capabilities of personnel and the unit, various in-house training; marksmanship training; sustained war fighting evaluation and enhancement programs; and other specialization courses, training and seminars were conducted.
“I believe that Colonel Cabusao will be leaving this unit with confidence to another officer with formidable character and equally able leadership,” Baluyot noted.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeszer Bautista assumed post as the new 3rd Mech Bn Commander.
3rd Mech Bn’s area of operation covers three cities, 31 municipalities, and 812 barangays in the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales. (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)
