Col. Romeo T. Racadio has succeeded Brig. Gen. Arturo G. Rojas as Joint Task Force (JTF) Tawi-Tawi commander during a well-attended change of command ceremony at the 2nd Marine Brigade headquarters in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi last Saturday, July 10.
Rojas, who commands the 2nd Marine Brigade, recalled the challenges of serving during the pandemic and a critical time of the Armed Forces in combating terrorism in Western Mindanao in his speech.
The outgoing JTF commander was awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Cross.
Among the accomplishments of Rojas is the rescue of seven Indonesian nationals from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). The Indonesian government, through its consul general, cited the unit for the rescue during a visit to the JTF Tawi-Tawi headquarters in Tawi-Tawi in June.
Rojas also partnered with civilian government in the military’s campaign against loose firearms in the province.
“To the Tawi-Tawians, it was a great honor to be in this province commanding the 2nd Marine Brigade and Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi. Your accomplishments – declaring the ASGs and other lawless elements as persona non grata and declaring all the 203 barangays of the province as clear, peaceful, conflict resilient community have in fact been a part of your history – first in BARMM and country,” said Rojas in his speech.
Major Gen. Ariel R. Caculitan, Philippine Marine Corps commandant, presided over the ceremony which was attended by Western Mindanao command chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr.; Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci, commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao; Brig. Gen. TJ Talja, Col. Dennis Estrella, and personnel from Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi.
The ceremony was also attended by Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali, Vice Gov. Michael Ahaja, Bongao Mayor Jimuel Que, and other Tawi-Tawi government officials.