FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army installed a new commander for the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) in a Change of Command Ceremony presided by the Commanding General, Philippine Army at the Battalion Retraining Facility, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; 11th Infantry Division Headquarters, Kuta Heneral Teofilo Bautista, Busbus, Jolo, Sulu and Headquarters, Philippine Army, Ft Bonifacio, Taguig City.
In a ceremony conducted via livestream due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 1BCT outgoing commander Brig. Gen. Leopoldo A. Imbang Jr. AFP welcomed the newly posted commander Col. Benjamin G. Batara Jr. PA.
The 1BCT was organized by the Philippine Army in December 2018 as an Army unit performing combined armed operations as part of the land maneuver concept that shall address current, emerging and future threat in our country.
Prior to the assumption of BGen Imbang as the first commander of the 1BCT, he led various command positions in different tactical units such as 72nd Infantry Battalion, 10th Military Intelligence Battalion, and 28th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division as well as the 503rd Infantry Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division. Under his leadership, 1BCT contributed to the defeat of the local terrorist group in Sulu. Imdang will now assume as the new Deputy Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command and Commander of Joint Task Force Haribon.
On the other hand, Batara, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1990, is recognized for his proven aptitude in special operations and management. He also completed the following military courses such as Scout Ranger Course, Special Forces Operation Course, Intel Officer Course, and Psychological Operations. His experiences were reflected by his previous assignments as Commander of the 1st Special Forces Battalion, Chief of Staff of the Special Airforce Regiment (Airborne), and as the Chief of Staff of 1st Infantry Division.
“As in any unit, capabilities and combat power are magnified by leadership and its direct effect upon the will to fight of the personnel. Do remember Brig. Gen. Vicente Lim on building our Army and nation, ‘If we desire the respect of other nations, we must show them that we are exerting all efforts to build a nation not only strong in arms but unconquerable in spirit’,” the Philippine Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen Gilbert I. Gapay said.
“Thank you, Brig. Gen. Imbang for providing such spirit to the 1BCT. Col. Batara, I expect you to ‘optimize’ our very first BCT’s capabilities and its spirit to win,” added Gapay. #