MARAWI war hero Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo II celebrates his 57th birthday yesterday, January 19, the mandatory retirement age of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Last Friday, the Philippine Army held a retirement ceremony for Cuerpo in Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag, this city, attended by retired generals and former commanders of the Army 4th Infantry Division.
Cuerpo is being replaced by Brigadier General Consolito Yecla, former deputy commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command and commander of Task Force Davao, in a ceremony presided by Army Chief Lt. General Roy Galido.
Yecla will assume command of the 4th Infantry Division in an “acting capacity” until Malacañang decides who will lead the army unity in an official status.
Cuerpo, who belonged to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) 1990 Bigkas-Lahi class, has served the Army for 38 years, nine months, and 18 days.
He gained prominence in 2008 when he served as an aide and spokesperson for then-AFP Vice Chief and Task Force Mindanao commander Lt. General Cardozo Luna during the fighting between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Lanao del Norte.
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” ‘elicopters and 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 am excited to start my new life as a 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.
