The soldiers and officers of the 48th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion bid farewell to their outgoing Commander and welcomed their new Commander in a change of command ceremony on Friday, March 3, 2023, held at the Mayor Apolinar Ruelo Convention Center (MARCC) in the municipality of San Isidro, Davao Oriental.
Presided by no less than the Commander of the 7th Infantry Division Major General Andrew Costello, the ceremony saw Lt. Col. Enrique Rafael pass on the unit’s colors and command, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility and authority, to the new Commander Lt. Col. Gilbert Gomez.
During his tenure, Lt. Col. Rafael led his more than 400-strong battalion through an extensive deployment from Luzon to Mindanao at the height of the pandemic in 2021. Under his leadership, the battalion cleared Communist insurgents in its areas of responsibility in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur. Most recently, it led campaigns and operations that helped make the province of Davao Oriental insurgency-free.
Under Lt. Col. Rafael’s leadership, the battalion led operations that complemented the implementation of the Sustainment Community Support Program, which benefited and endeared the people to the government.
Lt. Col. Rafael expressed his gratitude to the men and women under his command, his senior officers, and the Local Government Units for their support that fulfilled the battalion’s mission.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to our stakeholders and friends who, in one way or another, have significantly contributed to our mission, especially during my stewardship as commanding officer of the 48th IB,” he said.
As he relinquished his command, Lt. Col. Rafael expressed his confidence in his successor’s ability to lead the battalion to even greater success.
In his remarks, the incoming Commander, Lt. Col. Gilbert Gomez, thanked Lt. Col. Rafael for his leadership and for leaving the battalion in such a strong position.
“To my predecessor, Lt. Col. Rafael, thank you for steering and laying the groundwork of this unit, which I promise to nurture,” said Lt. Col. Gomez, as he vowed to lead the unit with integrity and passion to sustain the battalion’s gains.
While the 48th Infantry Battalion was instrumental in the total defeat of Guerilla Front 18, the last Communist threat in Davao Oriental, Lt. Col. Gomez assured development partners and stakeholders that he would do the best he could to sustain the peace in the battalion’s areas of responsibility, especially in Davao Oriental.
7th ID Commander Maj. Gen. Costelo lauded and recognized both commanders for their service and contributions to the organization and the country. He honored the outgoing Commander’s accomplishments and expressed confidence in the new Commander’s ability to lead the unit through its future missions.
Present during the ceremony were 701st Brigade Commander Oliver Maquiling, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Orle Cabaobao, DOPPO Provincial Director Police Colonel Francis Donald Brillante, and Retired Brigadier General Leoplodo Imbang, Jr., who represented Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon.
Also present were other senior officials, family members of the two commanders, and guests. ᴋʟᴅ-ᴘɪᴏ | ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏꜱ ʙʏ ᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴏʟɪᴠᴇʀ ᴀʟᴠɪᴛᴇ
