Sagada native new 501st Brigade chief

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga-- Col. Bismarck Soliba was installed last week as officer-in-charge commanding officer of the 501st Infantry Brigade.

Soliba replaced Col. YersonDepayso who was assigned deputy commanding officer of the 10th Infantry Division in Davao.

Maj. Gen.l Rommel Gomez, commanding general of the 5th Infantry Division based in Camp Upi, Gamu, Isabela, presided the change of command in simple ceremonies at the 501st Camp in Barangay Calanan, this city.

The affair was attended by local officials, professionals and representatives of government partner-agencies of the military in their bayanihan program.

Depayso was awarded the military merit medal for exemplary leadership in administration and operation of the brigade.

He was also cited for exemplary leadership in implementation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s  internal peace and security "Bayanihan"  program.

In his first order of the day, Soliba who was  the executive officer of the brigade before  his new assignment,  said there will be no changes in policies and orders of his predecessor.

Soliba, a member of the  Philippine Military Academy Class 1988, hails from Sagada, Mountain Province.