The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, installed its new commander Friday, May 28.
Lt. Col.Gerard Alvaran turned over the leadership to Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, who said that his efforts will always be geared towards achieving their mission while maintaining the morale and welfare of his troops, and professionalism and service excellence, at rites held at the 79th IB headquarters.
He also assured stakeholders that the 79th IB will always be a partner in their collaborative pursuit of genuine peace and equitable development.
Alvaran, who was also installed as the commander of the 82nd Infantry Battalion based in Cebu, that recently returned to their mother unit in the Visayas following their deployment in Mindanao, said he has a challenging task to fulfill in unit’s new area of operation.
It will be a challenging time indeed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
“But it can be easily surmounted knowing the unit that I will be leading now is composed of able and competent leaders and soldiers who live by the battalion’s name, ‘Bantay Laya’ the true protectors of freedom,” he said.*