37 Newly-promoted Senior TAS Officers don ranks

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – Regular and Reserve Senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Technical and Administrative Service (TAS) donned their new ranks in a ceremony held Wednesday, March 10. The AFP Deputy Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan presided over the donning of ranks ceremony at the Tejeros Hall, Commissioned Officers Country in Camp Aguinaldo. “We honor the distinguished officers who have exemplified our fundamental virtues of patriotism, integrity and service, thereby creating a reputable name for themselves as dependable and competent leaders of our organization,” said Vice Admiral Kagaoan. President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed the promotion of 37 new Colonels composed of five (5) officers from the Medical Corps, five (5) from the Veterinary Corps, three (3) from the Medical Administrative Corps, nine (9) from the Nurse Corps, five (5) from the Judge Advocate General Service, two (2) from the Corps of Professors, four (4) from the Dental Service, and four (4) from the Chaplain Service. Among the Medical Corps were Colonel Nealon Eugene P Batalla and Reserve Colonels Jonna D Dalaguit, William P Uy, Alan E Romero and Santiago O Rodriguez Jr who are military doctors assigned in different medical facilities of the AFP. They are charged with the mission of conserving the fighting strength of the AFP through the promotion of military personnel and their dependents’ health and wellbeing. From the Veterinary Corps were Colonel Paul Vincent D Fajardo and Reserve Colonels William A Averion, Peter Tom T Alangui, Nelson S Simpliciano and Perpetuo P Tan Jr. The corps provides comprehensive veterinary service support to preserve the physical fitness of AFP-owned animals. The officers from the Medical Administrative Corps were Colonels Marvin A De Jesus and Reserved Colonels Joseph Alain U Ibuna and Jayson A Aguila. The MAC is in charge of taking over all the administrative and allied health aspects of the AFP Medical Services. From the Nurse Corps were Colonel Darlene D Flores and Reserve Colonels Lourdes P Dacoscos, Barbara Lollini C Conte, Erlyn N Espera, Annaliza U Yanto, Maria Teresa B Rudio, Arlene M Mandal, Jeanette S Rivarez, and Assumption R Dy. An integral component of the Health Service since 1938, the Nurse Corps remains a robust organization that upholds the practice of professional nursing in support of the AFP mission. New Colonels Allan L Tiu, Rolando C Escalona Jr, Rosel L Tan and Reserve Colonels Primitivo M Corpuz Jr and Ma Victoria R Odulio were from the Judge Advocate General Service. They are mandated to render legal assistance required by the AFP, ensure the legitimacy of every military action and to supervise the efficient administration of the Military Justice System. Promoted Colonels Jesus Francisco M Torbela and Aristotle D Maglasang are regular officers from the Corps of Professors. They belong to the core of professional military educators that provide academic and technical expertise required by the AFP. The newly-promoted Reserve Officers from the Dental Service were Colonels Ruel P Baldeo, Abner E Viray, Rogelio T Montero Jr and Joel A Arcilla. The AFP Dental Service plays a critical role in promoting oral and dental health among soldiers, civilian human resources, and their immediate families. From the Chaplain Service, promoted were Reserve Colonels Carlito T Buslon, Daneck E Dang-Awan, Rene E Tambago and Pablito F Melchor. It is their task to guide the AFP leadership on matters pertaining to religion, spirituality, ethics, and morality for the overall accomplishment of the AFP’s mission. Promotions of Senior Officers in the AFP signify not only the advancement of their military career but the bigger and more crucial responsibilities that they have to perform in support of the AFP’s mission to protect the people and the state. “To our newly promoted Colonels, now that you have taken a notch higher in our organization, I would like to remind you that promotion is both a privilege and a duty - a privilege bestowed upon us by the organization and a duty we owe to our country and people. Let us be reminded that ours is a vocation of public service - we serve to protect our fellow Filipinos,” said Vice Admiral Kagaoan./// (Photos by Cpl Joel Manzano PA/PAOAFP)

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