TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Former commander of Philippine Army’s Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division Major General Paul Atal assumed as new Central Command (CentCom) chief on Friday, December 08.
Atal, a Cagayano, replaced retiring Lieutenant General Oscar Lactao as chief of the Cebu-based command.
Armed Forces Chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero led the turnover ceremony of Atal and Lactao in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City, the main headquarters of CentCom which covers all Visayas islands.
Atal, Lactao, and Guerrero are members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maharlika” Class of 1984.
In a report from Manila Times’ Dempsey Reyes, army’s public affairs chief Colobel Edgard Arevalo noted that Atal would first assume as acting chief as President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to sign the appointment papers.
Arevalo said in the article that Atal was a “seasoned commander.”
“[Maj.] Gen. Atal is one of our finest officers in the Armed Forces. He is a very learned, very experienced and very matured officer. His background will speak for himself and with that, he has distinguished himself when it comes to these assignments,” Arevalo told the media.
