CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. visited the 4th Infantry Division on Thursday for a farewell tour, commending troops for dismantling a major communist rebel committee and inaugurating several new camp facilities.

The visit held personal significance for Brawner, who previously served as commander of the division, known as the Diamond Division, based at Camp Evangelista.

Brawner was received with military honors led by Maj. Gen. Marion T. Angcao, the current division commander.

During the visit, Brawner handed out certificates of eligibility and beneficiary status for the Diamond Heights Village Association Inc., an off-base military housing development designed for qualified troops and their families.

Brawner also led the ribbon-cutting for the newly constructed Camp Evangelista Station Hospital, which will provide medical services to soldiers, their dependents and civilian staff.

To support the base, the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association Inc. donated a passenger van and various office equipment to the division.

The organization was represented by its president, retired Rear Adm. Dorvin Jose L. Legaspi, and its vice chairperson, retired Maj. Gen. Wilbur C. Mamawag, who is also a former division commander.

Additionally, Brawner’s wife, Melody Mariel V. Brawner, chairperson of the AFP Officers’ Ladies Club Inc., led the opening of the Harvest CDO Hub.

The facility will house the “Weave for Peace” project, a livelihood skills-training initiative for military dependents operated in partnership with the Bayo Manila Foundation. Anna Marie R. Lagon, president of the foundation, attended the ceremony as a guest speaker.

During a ceremony at the camp’s Montalvan Hall, Brawner honored 10 soldiers for exemplary service and conferred Army Governance Pathway status on 15 units within the division for organizational performance.

Addressing the troops, Brawner reflected on his tenure as division commander and praised the unit for neutralizing key rebel leaders and dismantling the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The military success led to the declaration of a stable internal peace and security status in the Caraga region.