1FAB troopers urged to stay nonpartisan during elections

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By Franklin P. Gumapon (FPG/PIA9)

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur, Nov. 5 (PIA) – As the national and local elections are nearing, Brigadier General Leandro A. Loyao III, Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) commander, has reminded the troopers of the 1st Field Artillery Battalion (1FAB) to stay away from partisan politics.

Speaking in the recently held change of command ceremony at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Barangay Pulacan here, Loyao told the soldiers that they should not take part in any partisan political activity/event during the election period, but focus on maintaining peace and order instead.

Loyao came all the way from the AAR national headquarters at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija to preside over the change of command ceremony between outgoing IFAB commander, Lt. Col. Sonny M. Sales and incoming commander, Lt. Col. Hubert Acierto.

Sales, who served as IFAB commander from Oct. 15, 2013 to Oct. 28, 2015, has been reassigned to the national headquarters to act as inspector general.

During his stint as 1FAB commander, Sales took the lead in several civic and community activities such as tree planting, coastal cleanup, “brigade eskwela,” among others.

The outgoing commander also expressed his gratitude to the civilians, local government units as well as national government agencies for helping the unit in accomplishing its programs and activities.