Ex-Negros Army chief passes away

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A former commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) of the Philippine Army based in Negros Occidental died of lymphoma on June 3, 2019.

Retired Brigadier General Francisco Delfin suffered cancer of the lymph nodes and passed away in a hospital in Iloilo City at the age of 56.

Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of 3rd Infantry Division (ID) in Western Visayas, along with Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, 3ID assistant division commander; Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, 303rd brigade commander; Brigadier General Alberto Desoyo, 301st brigade commander; and Brigadier General Ignacio Madriaga, 302nd brigade commander, led the send-off honors for Delfin’s remains at the Iloilo International Airport Friday morning.

Delfin’s remains were brought to Fort Bonifacio Metro Manila (FBMM) via C-130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, and were accompanied by wife Marites and his family.

His remains will lie in state at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, FBMM and will be buried on June 11.

Delfin served as the 17th commander of the 303rd IBde from 2015 to 2017. He was also the assistant division commander of 3rd ID from 2017 to 2018.

He retired from military service February this year.