A military officer, who received a Medal of Valor while assigned in Negros at the height of the insurgency problem in the 1980's, is now commander of the 4,000-strong elite Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army.

Col. Arturo Ortiz, who was a captain when he led the 606th Special Forces Company in attacking a training camp of the New People's Army occupied by about 200 rebels in Sitio Manipulon, Brgy. Pandanon, Murcia on April 6, 1990, replaces Brig. Gen. Victor Ibrado. Ibrado, a Negrense and former commanding general of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, has been designated chief of staff of the Philippine Army.

Ortiz, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class '79, yesterday said it was in Negros where he had spent the best years of his military career.

In more than two hours of gunbattle with more than 200 rebels, Ortiz and his men killed 85 guerillas and recovered 35 high-powered firearms, although they were outnumbered, military records show.

Ortiz, Lt. Col. Cirilito Sobejana -- formerly assigned with the 11th Infantry Battalion, and former President Ferdinand Marcos are among only 21 recipients of the Medal of Valor given from 1917 to the year 2000.

The Medal of Valor is the military's highest medal for bravery in combat.

The nine SF battalions under the command of Ortiz, are deployed all over the country, the majority of which are stationed in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Ibrado replaced Brig. Gen. Alexander Yano, who was named as incoming commanding general of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division.

Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin also assumed command of the AFP Central Command in Visayas on Jan. 21, replacing Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio who retired after 34 years in military service.*GPB

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