New TFP chief vows to win people's hearts and minds

By Erly C. Garcia

Newly installed Task Force Panay (TFP) Commander Col. Gregorio M. Fajardo vowed to continue what his predecessor Col. Nestor Ochoa had started relative to the drive to make the island of Panay conducive to peace and development.

Fajardo took the helm of Task Force Panay from Ochoa Wednesday in a simple turn-over ceremony at Camp Adriano Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo graced by no less than Maj. Gen. Alphonsus Crucero, Commanding General of the Philippine Army's 3 rd Infantry Division.

Fajardo vowed to continue bringing the heart and mind of the military to the people with the help of the local government units concerned.

Fajardo served as Chief of Staff of the 3 rd ID before he was chosen to replace Ochoa who will become the next commander of the 102 nd Brigade based in Ipil, Zamboanga.

Ochoa who was commander of Task Force Panay for seven months cited the help of the local government units in the successful implementation of their programs.

He cited as his major accomplishment the capture of a top rebel commander in the region, Romeo Capalla.

Capalla allegedly the former commanding officer of the Corazon Chiva Waling-waling Command of the Panay Regional Party Committee of the New Peoples Army was arrested the other week in a checkpoint in Oton by the joint team of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office and the Task Force Panay.

His arrest was in relation to the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Teodulo Colada of the Municipal Trial Court in Guimbal on February 21, 2005 relative to the case of destructive arson filed against him.

Capalla allegedly burned the heavy equipment of a construction firm in Guimbal, Iloilo early last year.

Fajardo is a native of Batangas. He was once served as Public Information Officer of the Philippine Army. Before his stint as Chief of Staff of 3 rd ID he was commander of the 11 th Infantry Battalion in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.