Faustino to assume reins of Eastmincom

January 24, 2020

Major Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. was named as the next head of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesman, said Faustino will be the 12th commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command in a ceremony that will be presided by the AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. in Davao City on Saturday.

Balagtey said Faustino, current head of the 10th Infantry Division, is expected to assume the command from Brig, Gen. Alfredo Rosario who was named acting commander when Santos was appointed as AFP Chief of Staff on January 4.

"At the helm of the 10th Infantry Division, MGen. Faustino made strides in the conduct of focus military operations which resulted in the dismantling of various New People's Army formations and their shadow government in the different communities in Region XI and XII," he said.

"He (Faustino) was also at the forefront of pushing the "whole-of-nation approach" to end local communist armed conflict in the regions and fully supported the localized engagement framework being initiated by the different Local Government Units (LGUs) in his area of responsibility. This pushed further 10th ID's peace gains, leading to the betterment of the security landscape in the region," Balagtey said.

"Likewise, MGen. Faustino is adept in a wide range of peace and security programs not only in Mindanao but in the whole country, having been assigned in the different units of AFP in various capacities," he added.

Balagtey said Faustino also "once headed the 11th Intelligence Service Unit based in Davao City and fought terrorists in Western Mindanao when he led the 35th Infantry Battalion, and subsequently the 501st Infantry Brigade as Brigade Commander."

He said Faustino,  a graduate of Philippine Military Academy class 1988, has spent his junior years with the First Scout Ranger Regiment, an elite unit of the Philippine Army deployed in various conflict-affected areas in the country.

"His experience and mentorship skills were also shared in molding future leaders and soldiers of the AFP when he was assigned as Tactical Officer and later on as Commandant of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy," said Balagtey.

He was assistant chief of staff for training of the Headquarters Philippine Army, said Balagtey. Robina Asido/DMS