The 402nd Infantry Brigade welcomed Brigadier General Edmund Paul R. Delos Santos as its 37th commander during a formal change of command ceremony on March 12 at Barangay Bancasi.
Delos Santos, a proud member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bantay Laya” Class of 1994, succeeds Brigadier General Adolfo B. Espuelas Jr. in a transition presided over by Major General Michele B. Anayron Jr., Commander of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division.
The new commander is no stranger to the security landscape of Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region.
Delos Santos has spent a significant portion of his career within the 4th Infantry Division, holding various key staff and command positions that provide him with a deep understanding of the local operational environment.
Lieutenant General Adonis Ariel G. Orio, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), attended the ceremony to signify his support for the brigade’s ongoing peace initiatives.
His presence underscored the strategic importance of the 402nd Brigade in the broader mission to maintain stability across Eastern Mindanao.
In his farewell address, Espuelas emphasized the necessity of “unified and sustained convergence efforts.”
He urged his successor to maintain the strong collaborations built with local stakeholders and government agencies to effectively end insurgency in the area.
Accepting the mandate, Delos Santos committed to continuing the brigade’s mission of safeguarding communities and supporting regional development initiatives.
The ceremony was attended by various stakeholders, heads of AFP financial institutions, and commanding officers from subordinate battalions, marking a seamless transition for one of the Army’s key frontline units in the fight for lasting peace.
