CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 19 January) — Marawi war hero Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo II has stepped down as commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) upon retirement and has been replaced by Brig. Gen. Consolito Yecla.
The Philippine Army held a retirement ceremony for Cuerpo last Friday, attended by retired Army generals and former commanders at the 4ID’s Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag here. Cuerpo is celebrating his 57th birthday, the mandatory age for retirement in the AFP, on Sunday, January 19.
Yecla, former deputy commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command and commander of Task Force Davao, took over as acting 4ID commander in a ceremony presided by Army Chief Lt. General Roy Galido.
Galido said Yecla will assume command in an “acting capacity” until Malacañang decides who will lead the Army division.
Cuerpo, who hails from Iligan, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) 1990 Bigkas-Lahi class. He served the Army for 38 years, nine months and 18 days.
He gained prominence as aide and spokesperson for then AFP Vice Chief of Staff and Task Force Mindanao commander Lt. General Cardozo Luna in the fighting between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Lanao del Norte in 2008.
During the Marawi siege in 2017, Cuerpo then the deputy commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, joined sniper teams hunting Maute-ISIS militants and was even seen manning a checkpoint.
As commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Cuerpo dropped troops on the mountains using the new “Black Hawk” helicopters and used the new Philippine Air Force Tocano bombers.
Cuerpo said he is glad that this military career ended without a major incident that could have blemished his record.
“Naka-retire jud ko. (I’ve finally retired). I am excited to start my new life as civilian,” Cuerpo said.
He said he is happy that he ended his military career with the 4th Infantry Division, the same division he started as a young lieutenant 38 years ago. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)
