BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negrense Maj. Gen. Juvy Max Uy, who officially retired from the military service on May 21, was replaced by Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, also an Ilonggo, as acting commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in central Mindanao.
Gubat, who used to serve as executive officer of 303rd Infantry Brigade and later as commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion stationed in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, had been the Assistant Division Commander of 6ID prior to his appointment.
Military records show that Gubat got his star rank while serving as commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, which is under the supervision of 6ID.
The retirement ceremony and 6ID change of command on Saturday was presided over by Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who once served as its key officer when he was still a lieutenant colonel.
“I shall cherish the good days I had while in 6th ID,” Uy, who had served Philippine Army for 37 years, said.
Uy became popular in central Mindanao for having arranged, along with the help of local government units and Moro datus in the region, the surrender of 314 members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawlah Islamiya since his assumption as 6th ID commander in September 2020.
The 6ID has been in the frontline of combat against secessionist and communist insurgents as well as ideological extremists in Central Mindanao, playing an active role in sustained strides that helped the government forge with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) major peace deals in 2013 and 2014, where Uy, as the commander, played a vital role.*
