Army in Central Luzon has a new commander

 

Brigadier General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has assumed command of the Army's 7th Infantry Division today. He replaced Major General Alan Luga (bottom photo), the newly installed Commander of the Southern Luzon Command. (OACPA photo)

 

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City –The Army has installed the new commander of the 7th Infantry Division in a simple Change of Command ceremony held at its headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija at 9:30am today.

 

Major Harold M Cabunoc, the Army Spokesperson, said that Brigadier General Gregorio Pio P Catapang Jr. has assumed the post of Division Commander, replacing Major General Allan Luga who was earlier installed as Commander of the Southern Luzon Command.

 

Prior to this new post, Catapang was the Commander of the Army’s 703^rd Brigade which has jurisdiction over Central Luzon.

 

 

He was also the former Military Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessment in the Department of National Defense.

 

Apart from his combat duties as Commander of the 703^rd Brigade, he also led campaigns against climate change by proposing a climate change adaptation summit.

 

He also served as the Chief of Unified Command Staff, Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) in 2005, and commanded the 28^th Infantry Battalion and the Headquarters and Headquarters Support Battalion of the 4^th Infantry Division in 2000.

 

In the 1980s, Catapang fought insurgents and Muslim secessionists in Mindanao as the Platoon Leader of Bravo Company, 39^th Infantry Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Division.

 

As a young officer, he led the Charlie Company, 69^th Infantry Battalion, as well as the 9^thCAA Company of the 7^th Infantry Division in Luzon.

 

Catapang is one of the Army officers whose designation was approved by President Benigno S Aquino III on September 8, 2012. 

 

 

He is a proud member of the Philippine Military Academy 'Dimalupig' Class of 1981 like his predecessor.