AN ILONGGO Philippine Military Academy Class'91 graduate was
installed as the new battalion commander of an elite force of the
Philippine Army deployed here in central Negros.
Lieutenant Colonel Oriel Pangcog of Iloilo City was installed on
Saturday as the new commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion based in
La Granja, La Carlota City
Pangcog who just completed the General Staff Course, a schooling
required for an officer to become a battalion commander, started his
military career as a Scout Ranger and spent his early years as a young
lieutenant in Mindanao mostly in Agusan and Surigao provinces.
He said being an Ilonggo is an advantage, considering that most
military officers assigned here are confronted with the problem on
language barrier, especially in communicating with the local residents
in the hinterlands of Negros.
Pangcog replaced Lieutenant Colonel Rodolfo Ileto who had a brief stint with the unit and has to go on GSC schooling.
Pangcog, who had a masters degree in Peace and Conflict studies which
he took up at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, pointed
out that his unit will be extending support to the 303rd Brigade of the
Philippine Army of which they are under operational control.
He envisioned the unit and its troopers to be respected by their
peers but feared by the enemy of the state and at the same time will
serve the Negrenses in their desire for peace.
He said he has reminded every member of the 1st Scout Ranger
Battalion that, under his leadership, there should be no human rights
violation.
Each member of the unit has to adhere to human rights to the rule of
law and there should be no gray areas as far as these are concerned,
Pangcog added.
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Teresa D. Ellera | SunStar.Com.Ph | May 15, 2012 | Article Link
