Longest-serving Army commander in Panay turns over post to mistah

By Jennifer P. Rendon

At three years and three months, Brigadier General Marion Sison holds the title of the longest-running commander of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade.

And perhaps, the longest-term brigade commander in the whole of the 3rd Infantry Division and even in the Philippine Army in recent times.

But after spending four Christmases and four birthdays in Panay, Sison finally relinquished his post to his mistah or classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1991, Colonel Michael Samson.

Prior to the turnover of command ceremony, Sison was designated as assistant division commander of the 3rd ID on Jan 27.

Samson, on the other hand, is the deputy commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Camp Gerona, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

He assumed as acting 303rd IB commander on Dec. 27, 2022 following the retirement of Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte.

“I look at the unprecedented length of my tenure in leading the Bayanihan Troopers as a blessing.  Indeed, it has enabled us to effect organizational and operational changes that made us adapt to the challenges of the times and responsive to both natural and manmade threats,” Sison said.

When he assumed as the unit’s 28th commander in November 2019, Sison remembered asking the people to be with him in pursuing peace and development for the people of Panay and Guimaras by fighting rebels “who have long wreaked havoc and only brought chaos, poverty, and despair to our fellow Filipinos.”

“Mula ng araw na iyon, hanggang sa araw na ito, hindi niyo ako binigo sa pakikiisa sa ating adhikaing makamit ang kapayapaan. Hindi matatawaran ang inyong mga naging kontribusyon maliit man o malaki, sa kabuoang pagtatagumpay natin laban sa terorismong dulot ng komunismo.  Sa bawat pagsubok, hindi kayo nagpatinag,” he said.

As he ended his stint at 301st IB, Sison also cited those who made the ultimate sacrifice in fulfilling their duties and commitment to serving the people and securing the land.

“May we continue honoring them by relentlessly sustaining the fight against terror.  There must be no letup in our momentum in finally putting an end to the more than 50 years of senseless armed struggle by the left,” he said.

Sison narrated how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape in their internal security efforts.

“As the world stood still with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our efforts to preserve the force were instrumental in enabling us to continue performing our mandate.  We remained steadfast in the fight both against an invisible enemy and an enemy that has long preyed on our youth,” he said.

Sison added, “through our intel-driven operations, we scored victory upon victory and foiled the enemy’s plans in committing more atrocities.”

He also acknowledged the battalions under the 301st Brigade and other operational control units “for staying true to the spirit of unity.”

Sison also thanked the 301st IB counterparts at the Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support (PLEDS) Cluster of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC)

“May we continue these partnerships until we have rid every corner of our archipelago of the communist menace,” he said.

Sison has also tackled the implementation of the sectoral unification and continuous dialogue through the National Cadre Team and enhancing the awareness of the people on the deceptive tactics of the CTG which helps “in uncovering the New People’s Army (NPA’s duplicity and lies has let truth prevail.”

He also discussed how various peace summits such as the Akap-Kapatid and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) helped in anti-insurgency efforts.

He also thanked the 301st IB troops for their efforts in ensuring the conduct of safe, accurate, fair, and free national local elections (NLE) in 2022 in Panay and Guimaras Island.

Sison also cited the troop’s efforts during typhoons and natural calamities.

“Terorismo, pandemya, bagyo. The 301st Brigade let the true spirit of Filipino Bayanihan triumph. I am forever grateful to all of you for sharing with me this journey. There is more to be done, for we cannot, we will not give an inch of cleared area back to our enemy.  I have faith and trust in my successor, whom I believe not only has the capability to lead the 301st Brigade, but also has the spirit of bayanihan inside him,” he said.