BGen. Potenciano C. Camba has formally and officially ended his tour of duty as the Brigade Commander of the 1002nd  Infantry (‘Bagwis’) Brigade under the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division on February 3, 2022  during a simple turnover rites held at the Covered Court of the Headquarters 1002nd Bde, Camp Herminigildo A Agaab Jr, in Sitio Pulatana, Brgy. Malandag, Sarangani Province.

The change of command was presided over by BGen Allan D Hambala, PA, the acting commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, Philippine Army, the event's guest of honor.

DILG XII RD Josephine Cabrido- Leysa, CESO III, along with some other regional officials and local chief executives showed appreciation to Gen. Camba's contributions and partnership by joining the solemn rites. "We wish him well on his new assignment at the Easter Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) as the Deputy Commander and I believe this is going to be his stepping stone to a much higher post in the future.  Of course, we look forward to another fruitful collaboration with Col Alexei C. Musngi, the incoming commander," RD Leysa added. The EastMinCom is one of the AFP’s Wide Support Commands advocating the Culture of Peace in Mindanao based in Panacan, Davao city.

RD Leysa presented a token and a plaque of appreciation from DILG XII and RPOC XII which also recognized Gen. Camba’s contributions to the proliferation of peace in the Region.

"Gen. Camba has been an able partner of the DILG XII, especially in the realization of EO 70. We have seen his hard work and dedication for all of our ELCAC activities", Dir. Leysa stated. The general, RD Leysa relates, has always made himself available in various Lokal Serbisyo Caravans as part of his commitment to the objectives of the present administration: to end the communist insurgency before the end of president Duterte’s term.

Dir. Leysa also added: “I learned that under the leadership of Gen Camba, he was able to supervise 334 former rebels in 8 different deradicalization programs.”

Records show that under his leadership, the 1002nd Bde “has neutralized 157 regular Communist New People’s Army Terrorists, worked for the surrender of 446 Milisyang Bayan, 296 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad, and 4,237 members of the Underground Mass Organizations.”

Meanwhile, in his message, Gen. Camba thanked supporters and benefactors, including all the local chief executives and governors of Regions XI and XII, along with the other partners who made his stint a success. The soft-spoken general and a well- experienced Army field officer assumed post on May 5, 2020 as the 1002nd  IB Commander.

Gen. Camba had been the former Army assistant Chief of Staff for personnel (G1). He took over the reins of the 1002nd IB after Brig. Gen. Adonis Bajao was assigned in Bicol Region. Prior to his assignment as G1, Camba was the deputy commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

The General, who now considers himself as a resident of Region XII, also served as commanding officer of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion and 3rd Special Forces Battalion under the Army Special Forces Regiment (Airborne). He is member of the Philippine Military Academy’s "Sambisig" Class of 1991, holding a master’s degree in Public Management Major in Development Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and he has undergone various trainings abroad.

The Army’s 1002nd IB has a wide operational jurisdiction which covers parts of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the Province of Cotabato in Region XII, and Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental in Region XI. Also under its wings are the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Digos.

During his tenure at the 1002nd IB, Gen Camba’s “Bagwis Brigade’ was able to accomplish the following: recovery of 88 firearms, worked-out the turnover of 119 surrendered firearms and 65 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Its counter-insurgency campaign has also effectively crippled the communist movement in the area with the dismantling of NPAs three units, namely: the Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) of SMRC, and the ALIP and TALA Fronts of the Far South Mindanao Region.

Meanwhile, incoming Brigade Commander Col Alexei C. Musñgi who belonged to Philippine Military Academy “Maalab” Class of 1993 expressed his delight as he took on the new responsibility. Col Musngi, a decorated officer from Metro Manila, is not new to South Central Mindanao. He had been the Operations Chief of the 6th Infantry Division based in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

He is also a former Commanding Officer of 48IB, 7ID in Central Luzon and he is the former Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3 at the Headquarters Philippine Army and holds several special duty positions in the Philippine Army.

 Meanwhile, BGen Allan D Hambala, acting commander of 10th Infantry (Agila) Division and the Guest of Honor, gave charge to BGen Camba as he welcomes Col. Musngi, MNSA, “to continue your efforts for the community. Together, we will work for the fulfillment of our mission".

Gen Hambala also elaborated further: “It’s apparent that Gen Camba and his team have contributed vastly to 10ID’s accomplishment. With his good leadership, competence, combat decisiveness, and initiative, he fully maximized all available AFP assets in defeating the enemy and made him achieve far beyond targets and timelines.” He also stated that Col Musñgi’s good service reputation gives him “high hopes that under the new leadership of 1002nd Brigade, Agila Division’s mission will be effectively and swiftly be achieved.”

Also present during the ceremony were several local chief executives of Sarangani Province, Davao Occidental, and national line agencies, together with the members of PMA “Sambisig” Class of 1991 and PMA “Maalab” Class of 1993.