Dominguez relinquishes Nolcom post

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — "I have done my part. I have served."

With these words, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez relinquished his post as chief of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) to Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino in simple rites here yesterday morning.

Prior to the Nolcom post, Tolentino was the commanding general of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based at Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

After 34 years in military service, Dominguez said he is ready to become "husband to (my) wife and father to (our) only daughter."

"I am looking forward to spending the rest of my retirement days with my family," he said.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., who was the guest of honor and speaker, described Dominguez’s style of leadership as "cerebral yet practical."

"This earned him the respect of the troops under his command and the support of the communities that he served," he added.

Despite limited resources, Cruz said the Nolcom, under Dominguez’s leadership, "has been successful in confronting threats, particularly from the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army."

Although the job is far from complete, Cruz said there has been "a significant decline in the strengths of these various threat groups."

Dominguez, a member of Philippine Military Matatag Class 1971, attributed the recent achievements of Nolcom soldiers to "new technology."

"Text messaging has played a vital role in our campaign against the threats of communist terrorists," he said.

It was under Dominguez’s helm when Nolcom soldiers commissioned to the 7th ID were able to neutralize the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan, a breakaway group of the mainstream CPP-NPA operating in Pampanga, last month.

The anti-insurgency operation in Pura, Tarlac also uncovered the "grand design" of the CPP-NPA to launch massive tactical offensives against government troops.

Despite these achievements, Dominguez described himself as the "most maligned official."

"I underwent trial by publicity not just once but twice," he said referring to the Lamitan, Basilan incident and the Hacienda Luisita unrest.

"These controversies," he said, though, "tested my judgment and competence as a commander."

Meanwhile, Tolentino vowed to continue the programs which Dominguez has initiated during his two-and-a-half-year stint as Nolcom chief, including the recently launched Kawal Kalinga program which provides subsidized housing to soldiers and their families.

Although there is talk that Dominguez will be offered a government position, both Cruz and Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu said "(that) is for the political leadership to decide."

Other guests in the turnover rites were Gen. Generoso Senga, the incoming Armed Forces chief, and other ranking officials.