Lt. Colonel Charlie Domingo Jr. took over the command of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 stationed in Barangay Minara, Roxas from Lt. Colonel Ramil Holgado on Monday.
Domingo assumed during the change of command ceremony held at the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBDe) headquarters, Marine Base General Rodolfo Punsalang, Barangay Tiniguiban presided by Brig. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, commander of the contingent.
Holgado reflected on the accomplishments of the battalion during his more than one year of leadership from Sulu to Palawan.
Holgado also said that all Marines under his leadership should make all the learning and knowledge their way of life as he thanked all of them under the battalion.
“Pinakamahirap sabihin ‘yong magpapaalam ka. Alam ko naging strict ako sa inyo pero hindi ako nagpabaya para magawa natin lahat ng ating mandato at responsibilidad. Sana lahat ng kaalaman na naibahagi ko sa inyo ay magamit ninyo. Alam ko magaling o mas magaling pa si Charlie, salamat sa pagkakataon na pinagkatiwalaan niyo ako,” he said.
On June 30, the MBLT-3 arrived in Palawan to take over the internal security operations (ISO) from Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 that operated in Palawan for eight years.
Under his leadership, special operations platoon and rifle companies have been deployed to support the Philippine Marines Ready Force and Joint Task Force Sulu in the execution of a total of 24 operations order (OPORDs), four enemy body counts, 32 Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) surrenderees, recovery of 11 Garands, .45 pistol caliber, M16 rifles, M79 launchers, and mortars among others.
Domingo, a former operations officer of the 3MBDe said he is hoping to meet expectations from him as the new battalion commander.
“Amidst our current internal threats in our area of operations, we vow to do the best we can to meet the standards [as commanding officer] by performing our duties and mandates particularly against communist-terrorist groups,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gaerlan congratulated Holgado for completing his duty as a battalion commander in the province of Sulu and a few months in northern Palawan.
He mentioned having plans to cut links and support from Mindoro so there is a need to work hard north to south, “Dapat tulong-tulong tayo lalo na ngayon may task force ELCAC.”
He also said that Palawan is different from Sulu, which is considered a “war zone” but said that the Marines should always remain alert as they are.
“Iba ang Palawan sa Sulu pero dito kasi barangay to barangay ang labanan. Dapat isa-isahin mo. Your Marines fully supports lahat ng mga makabu-buti sa lahat lalo na sa peace and security,” Gaerlan said.
