FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army installs new commanders for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) in a change of command ceremony held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Monday, January 9, 2018.
Major General Ronnie S. Evangelista replaced Lt. Gen. Danilo G. Pamonag as the commander of SOCOM. Pamonag has been promoted as the commander of the Southern Luzon Command based in Quezon. Previously, Evangelista was the commander of the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Evangelista is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sinagtala” Class of 1986. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Early on his career, he served under the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) of SOCOM. He had also operated in different regional units and in various capacities at the SFR (A) wherein he served as a Battalion Commander until he became its Regiment Commander from November 2013 to January 2016. He was later on promoted as the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command in January 2016.
On the other hand, Colonel William N. Gonzales replaced the outgoing commander of the FSRR, Major General Rene Glen O. Paje who was elevated to GQH as the AFP's Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7. Gonzales was the former Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training (G8) of the Philippine Army.
Gonzales is a member of the PMA “Makatao” Class of 1989. He has a Master’s Degree in Management. Prior to his post, he was also the Commandant of the Officer Candidate School of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command and the Battalion Commander of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, FSRR.
“To our outgoing commanders, I congratulate you and wish you the best on your future endeavors. To our incoming commanders, I congratulate you also and urge you to continue and exceed if possible the legacy of your predecessors,” said Lt. Gen. Bautista, Commanding General of the Philippine Army.#