Philippine Army vice commander Steve Crespillo has been named as the new head of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), the Department of National Defense (DND) announced.
The DND said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named Crespillo as the new Wenmincom chief, taking over the post vacated by Lieutenant General Roy Galido, whom Mr. Marcos earlier appointed as the new commanding general of the Philippine Army.
The DND said Crespillo also previously served as chief of the Unified Command Staff of Wesmincom, which oversees operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Further, Crespillo was also chief of staff and assistant division commander for reservist and retiree affairs of the 6th Infantry Division, and acting commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
DND Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong added prior to his appointment, Crespillo is currently the vice commander of the Philippine Army.
Andolong said part of Crespillo’s responsibility is to perform oversight functions in the department’s key policies and programs.
Andolong added that Crespillo was also the commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, who led efforts to squash rebels and armed conflicts in Apayao and Cagayan.
The new Westmincom chief is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990, the defense department further said.
