Brigadier General Antonio Mangoroban Jr., commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade and deputy commandant of the Philippine Marines Corps, on Saturday morning led the Stakeholders Awarding Ceremony at their headquarters in Barangay Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City.
The event was held to honor law enforcement and military units, partners, and organizations that supported the unit’s missions during his leadership, such as businessman Butch Chase, the Western Command Defense Press Corps, the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the provincial government of Palawan.
The ceremony came ahead of his scheduled turnover of command on September 22, before his compulsory retirement from the service on September 26 after 33 years in uniform.
In a symbolic gesture, the stakeholders also gave him tokens of recognition for his leadership and service.
In his speech, Mangoroban looked back on his five years of assignment in Palawan, which he described as both challenging and fulfilling.
“Dreams indeed do come true and I cannot be happier. Truly God moves in mysterious ways,” he said, recalling how he had once hoped to be deployed to the province early in his career but only got the chance as he neared retirement.
He acknowledged the role of local government units, agencies, and civic groups in helping the brigade address security issues and respond to natural disasters.
Mangoroban expressed gratitude for the partnerships that he said made their work easier despite the complexity of security challenges in Palawan.
“Your help, regardless of magnitude and breadth, are nonetheless enough to lighten up our load. You help us shape our decisions, enlighten our understanding of the situation, and challenge our own biases and perspectives that only you can credibly bring to the table,” he said.
“I am truly beyond grateful. Indeed, no amount of words can help aptly describe or express how much thankful I am for all the help that you have extended or given to us and me,” he told those who attended the event.
The 3rd Marine Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with its partners to sustain peace, security, and development in Palawan.
