Marine brigade commander in Basilan relieved

By Ronron
August 22, 2007

The commander of the Marine brigade in Basilan was relieved on Wednesday due to his non-“forward” type of leadership during the recent operations against Moslem extremists in the island province.

1st Marine Brigade commander Col. Ramiro Alivio was replaced by Col. Rustico Guerrero, chief of the Marine Corps Training Center, said Marines spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan.

“We have put in another commander in Basilan because we have to do more in Basilan… I think we have to have a brigade commander that will be with the troops, that would prefer to be with the troops during operations,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. told reporters in a separate interview.

Esperon said that during the encounter last August 18 in Ungkaya Pukan town, where 15 Marine soldiers died and seven others were injured, Alivio just stayed at his headquarters in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City, and not with the engaged troops on the ground.

“It’s not because Col. Alivio has failed in his job… I don’t contest the assessment of Col. Alivio that he has to remain in his headquarters while the operations is going on. But I believe a brigade commander will be more effective if he will be near the troops during operations,” Esperon said.

During the July 10 incident in Al-Barka town, where Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters ambushed Marine troopers who had just finished looking for Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi, Alivio was also just at the 1st Marine Brigade headquarters.

Esperon said that in the August 18 incident, “I wish Col. Alivio would have been more forward.”

“I know that he could control the troops from where he was, but I would have preferred that he be nearer the troops,” the military chief said.

Asked if it would make a difference if Alivio was on the ground during the operations, Esperon said: “Probably.”

“What we are after is more aggressive pursuit against the Abu Sayyaf in the area. So we believe that Col. Rustico Guerrero fits the bill… We have put in there a commander, who, I think, would take all the opportunity to be with his troops,” Esperon said.

Esperon said the change of leadership was a decision of the board of generals of the AFP.

He said Alivio will be assigned to another position “where his intelligence background will serve our organization best.”

“If you ask me if this is the end of his career, no. He is a very good officer and therefore, we will put him in another position,” Esperon said.

He acknowledged that the morale of the brigade, which has Marine battalions 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 under it, may be affected with the relief of Alivio, “but it is not something that will disrupt the operations.”

Sought for comment, Alivio said by phone from Basilan: “That’s (relief) part of the job. When the orders come out, you have to follow it. But it’s a sigh of relief for me. It’s a great unburden on my part.”

Told about the reason for his relief as disclosed by Esperon, Alivio said: “My command and control is at the headquarters… That’s where the communication facilities are.”

Told further that Esperon wanted him to be on the ground with the troops, he said: “I’m already on the ground. It’s just that I’m in another location… Of course, you have to respect the echelon of command. If it’s at the level of the battalion headquarters, you have to leave it to the battalion commander.”

Alivio said he has “no regrets” with whatever decision he made during his stint as brigade commander.

“My conscience is clear… I planned for my battalions. If the higher headquarters thinks I failed in my responsibilities, they should review my plans,” he said.

Alivio said he has yet to learn his new assignment at the Marine headquarters in Manila. “Que sera sera (whatever will be, will be),” he said./DMS