New Westmincom chief assumes post

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force ZamPeLan commander, assumed his post as the new chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) yesterday.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Jose Faustino virtually presided over the change of command ceremony from his isolation room at Camp Aguinaldo. He was supposed to attend the turnover rites in this city, but tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Ponio replaced Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., who reaches the mandatory age of retirement of 56 today.

Faustino lauded Vinluan for leading military units in the fight against terrorist groups, particularly Abu Sayyaf bandits, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and foreign terrorists in Sulu.

He credited Vinluan for the decline of the strength of these groups as well as the “effective insulation of our community from their influence and intimidation.”

Faustino also commended Vinluan for the heightened security in the territorial waters and protected strategic resources against foreign threats with the deployment of technologically advanced platforms from naval and air force personnel under Westmincom.

The AFP chief vowed to support the leadership of Ponio and directed him to continue a relentless campaign to ensure the security and stability of the region.

Faustino noted that Ponio is no stranger to his new post, having served as former deputy commander of Westmincom prior to his assignment to the 1st Division.