The Army’s 9th Infantry Division welcomed Tuesday, January 4, its 16th commander in a change-of-command ceremony led by Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., at the division headquarters in Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur.
Maj. Gen. Alex Luna replaced acting division commander Brig. Gen. Adonis Bajao who will now serve as the AFP Internal Auditor.
Brig. Gen. Bajao is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Makatao" Class 1989. He held key positions in the AFP Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (OJ-3). He also served as 8th Infantry Division assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations (CMO); and commander of 1002nd Infantry Brigade, Joint Task Force General Santos, and 1002 Infantry Brigade. He graduated from the Development Academy of the Philippines with a Master’s degree in Public Management and a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines. He will assume as the AFP Internal Auditor.
During Brig. Gen. Bajao’s stint as 9ID acting commander, the division neutralized 592 CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs), captured 13 high-powered firearms, 8 anti-personnel mines, and other war materiel.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Luna also belongs to PMA "Makatao" Class 1989. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Philippine Christian University and a Master in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines.
Maj. Gen. Luna held key positions such as 801st Infantry Brigade commander, 10th Infantry Division chief-of-staff, and as commander of Joint Task Force-NCR where he led troops in Covid-19 response efforts while continuing counter-insurgency activities. He also served as deputy chief of staff for intelligence at Camp Aguinaldo.
The CGPA commended Brig. Gen. Bajao for his hands-on management and leadership that resulted in sustainment of the Army’s operational gains against threat groups in the Bicol Region. He also expressed confidence that Maj. Gen. Luna will sustain the gains of his predecessor.
“As ‘One Team Army’, let us work together in fulfilling our thrusts summarized in the word “SERVE” or “Soldier’s” welfare, “Enhancement” of the individual soldier and units, “Resources” provided to units which will result in “Victory” over the enemy as tasked by the president, and an “Election” that is orderly and peaceful in 2022,” Lt. Gen. Brawner remarked.
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