FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City - The Philippine Army installed the new Commander of the Light Reaction Regiment (LRR) in a Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony presided by the Commanding General, Philippine Army on May 1, 2020.
The outgoing LRR commander, Brig. Gen. Monico S. Batle, turned over the Command Symbol to the incoming commander, Col. Monico E. Abang, presided by Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay via video teleconference.
The LRR under Batle was able to neutralize significant members of the Abu Sayyaf Group - six (6) of them from the latest operations in Surigao del Sur and Sulu - and the capture of high-profile CPP-NPA personalities. He also displayed his leadership acumen and professionalism during his 37 years of military service and as he led the Special Operations Task Group-Western Mindanao, Special Operations Command and Armed Forces of the Philippines-Joint Special Operations Group. Batle is commended for his accomplishments as the Commander of 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Sulu and Joint Task Group “Lawa” in Marawi for the neutralization of Abu Solaiman and the sealing of ISIS Mobility-Retrograde Corridor respectively. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988.
On the other hand, Abang served as Deputy Regiment Commander prior to his assumption. A graduate of PMA Class 1991, Abang has underwent trainings on Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism - notably the Comprehensive Security Response to Terrorism Course in Hawaii and the Advance Special Operations Combatting Terrorism Course in Florida - combined with his leadership experiences from prior designations such as that in Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, Eastern Mindanao Command, and Chief, Information Operation Division, OJ3, AFP.
“To Brig. Gen. Batle, maraming salamat sa iyong tapat, mahusay, at propesyunal na serbisyo sa Hukbong Katihan at sa ating bansa. To Col. Abang, the Army is counting on you to further magnify the capability of LRR and protect our country against threats of terrorism,” Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay said.
“To the men and women of the LRR - to all Tiradores - the Army will continue to rely on you to defeat the country’s enemies of peace and progress, so always stay prepared and healthy especially during this pandemic,” Gapay added.