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AFP honors retiring military engineer

Philippines | National

AFP honors retiring military engineer

By Martin Sadongdong

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) paid tribute Monday, August 2, to a retiring military engineer who helped build emergency quarantine facilities for soldiers who got infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Brig. Gen. Lyndon Sollesta (right), commander of the Philippine Army's 51st Engineering Brigade, is honored by Maj. Gen. William Ilagan, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Engineer, on August 2, 2021 in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of AFP Facebook Page)

Brig. Gen. Lyndon Sollesta, commander of the Philippine Army's 51st Engineering Brigade, was honored by the AFP ahead of his compulsory retirement on August 8 when he reaches the mandatory age of retirement of 56 years old.

A member of the AFP Officer Candidate School "Pioneer" Class 01-88, Sollesta has served the military for over 33 years.

Major Gen. William Ilagan, AFP Chief Engineer, said Sollesta led his brigade in supporting the construction of various emergency quarantine facilities that helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the military.

Sollesta also pushed for the institutionalization of all engineer battalions in the AFP under his leadership at the 51st Engn. Battalion, Ilagan noted.

He also contributed to environmental protection by supporting the initiatives of the "Task Force Build Back Better" in mitigating the flooding of major rivers in the country.

The government task force, created in 2020, deals with the recovery of typhoon-stricken communities by pursuing rehabilitation and post-recovery efforts.

Ilagan extended his gratitute to Sollesta for his "exemplary and inspirational stint" as commander of 51st Engn. Battalion.

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