By Rey Anthony Chiu, PIA
After a month and 18 days tour of duty commanding Bohol's 802nd Brigade, army Colonel Alex N. Albano moves over to a new assignment as Col. Alan R. Luga takes his vacated post.
8th Infantry Division Commander Major General Arthur Tabaquero presided over the highly ceremonial military turn over of command ceremony attended by mayors and civilian authorities at the Camp Rajah Sikatuna Tuesday, February 24.
According to Mgen Tabaquero, Luga came from an assigment in Mindanao's Compostela Valley leading the 1001st Brigade. He added that the military organization knows Col. Luga, who was born and raised in Cebu is familiar with the culture and way of life of the region.
On the other hand, Col. Albano, who used to be deputy commander of the 801st Brigade would finally be leading the troops assigned in West Samar.
Said to be the commander with the shortest stint in Bohol. Albano leaves, but not without scoring impressive accomplishments, including three brigade operations, two company operations and 67 small unit operations and patrols.
In his brief stint, the brigade apprehended communist leader Ramon Patriarca, who was a finance officer and deputy secretary of the KR-SB, read Capt. Ricky Parcon, brigade adjutant from Albano's accomplishment dossier.
The operations also netted for the government 6 rebel returnee surrenderees, 6 low powerd fire-arms, 7.6 mm rifles, a cal .45 sub machinegun, garnad rifle, cal .5 pistol and hand grenades.
The military organization also credited Col Albano for establishing coordination with government agencies in the light of the Bohol convergence formula for the accomplishment of various projects beneficial to the people.
For all these and for a sterling performance in keeping discilpline and morale of his men, Col. Albano earned for himself a military merit medal, which Mgen, Tabaquero pinned on him.
"I feel nostalgic I am leaving one happy family I have learned to love so well", he said as he also urged "each and everyone to extend to his successor the trust and confidence afforded to [me].
Meanwhile, upon taking over the post, Col. Luga vowed to keep his men focused on the military mandates and mission in the area. He also admitted that his new assigment proves to be a challenge for him as the area is one of the very few where the internal security operations seem to be successful.