Army Col. Francisco Patrimonio was relieved yesterday as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade after a series of successful raids by the New People’s Army against a mining firm, fish farm and two haciendas in Negros Occidental, where millions of properties were destroyed, within 45 days.

Patrimonio, however, was given a similar position yesterday in Negros Oriental, as the new commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade that some described as a sort of “lateral transfer”.

Col. Oscar Lactao, who was earlier projected to assume command of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, is expected to take over command of the 303rd Infantry Brigade tomorrow at Camp Major Nelson Gerona in Murcia.

Patrimonio said he welcomed his new assignment, and stressed, “We obey orders and decisions of the higher headquarters”. He replaced Col. Manuel Luis Ochotorena who has been assigned in Maguindanao, as the assistant division commander of the 6th Infantry Division,

Lactao, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1984, served as a commander of an Army task force in Davao, before his present assignment as the Philippine Army assistant chief of staff for Operations.

Patrimonio served as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade for 47 days.

Supt. Harold Tuzon was also relieved as Sagay police officer-in-charge Monday, two days after the raid on the fish farm of businessman Joseph Edgar Sarrosa, a nephew of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, where rebels carted away high-powered firearns.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, however, said the relief of Tuzon has nothing to do with the raid on the fishpond of Sarrosa.

Three days before the raid at the fish farm, Guisihan said there was already a relief order for Tuzon, since he and Supt. Jerry Bartolome are scheduled to pursue their career advance course, as a requirement for their promotions.

Rebels also raided the Philex Mining Corp. compound in Sipalay City, burned and destroyed an estimated P3 million worth of properties, and divested their guards of three guns, raided two haciendas in EB Magalona and burned three farm tractors and carted away an M16 assault rifle, within a period of 45 days.

Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the Apolinario “Boy” Gatmaitan Command, claimed in a statement they issued that they have successfully conducted 21 coordinated tactical offensives in Negros in one month, from June 5 to July 6, and recovered six high-powered firearms, aside from those taken from the Sarrosa fish farm in Sagay City.

Marañon said he was saddened by the continued destruction of properties in Negros Occidental, allegedly perpetrated by the NPA. At the same time, he said, he is already fed up of calling the NPA leaders to unite in working for the progress of Negros Occidental, and address the poverty situation, as he was charged with numerous baseless accusations, despite his good intentions.

Lt. Col. Isabelo de los Reyes, 303rd IB Civil Military Operations officer, came to the rescue of Marañon who has been a victim of disinformation campaign of the NPA. He Marañon is doing his best to address the poverty and unemployment problem in Negros Occidental.*GPB

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