Marcos appoints new Wesmincom chief

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Philippine Army vice commander Steve Crespillo as the new head of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Saturday.

Major General Crespillo takes over the post vacated by Lieutenant General Roy Galido, whom Marcos earlier appointed as the new commanding general of the Philippine Army.

The DND said Crespillo also previously served as chief of the Unified Command Staff of Wesmincom, which oversees operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

He was also a former commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, the department said.

Crespillo was also chief of staff and assistant division commander for reservist and retiree affairs of the 6th Infantry Division, and acting commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.