Maj. Gen. Leonardo I. Peña, who commanded the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade in Negros Oriental for two and a half years, rendered his exit call as outgoing commander of the 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division and Joint Task Force Orion on October 20, 2026, at Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
According to an Army press release issued October 21, Commanding General Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran lauded Peña’s military service during the call. Brig. Gen. Rhenante M. Salvador, outgoing commander of the 503rd Infantry “Peace and Justice” Brigade, also rendered his exit call the same day.
Two and a Half Years at Camp Leon Kilat
Peña assumed command of the 302nd Infantry “Achiever” Brigade at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City in October 2020, succeeding Brig. Gen. Noel Baluyan. At the time, the brigade supervised the 11th, 15th, and 94th Infantry Battalions in operations against New People’s Army guerrilla fronts in central and southern Negros.
He relinquished the post to Col. Joey Escanillas on April 24, 2023, after two years and six months in command.
At a thanksgiving gathering with partner agencies in Tanjay that April, Peña recalled that his tenure covered several crises, including Typhoon Odette in December 2021 and the March 4, 2023 attack in Pamplona that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
Following the Degamo killing, then AFP Visayas Command chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo announced that Peña would remain in Negros Oriental under Joint Task Force Negros, which was formed to help restore peace and order in the province.
Brigade Awards During Negros Command
Under Peña’s leadership, the 302nd Brigade earned several distinctions. The unit was named the 3rd Infantry Division’s Best Maneuver Brigade for 2022, received an AFP campaign streamer for the dismantling of guerrilla fronts, and earned Proficiency Status with a Gold Trailblazer Award under the Army Transformation Roadmap.
When he assumed command in 2020, Peña told the brigade he would be a “team player” in pursuing peace and progress on Negros Island.
Assignments After Negros Oriental
After leaving Negros Oriental, Peña served as assistant division commander of the 3rd Infantry “Spearhead” Division in Jamindan, Capiz, and later as chief of its Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability. He also served as Chief of the Unified Command Staff of the AFP Western Mindanao Command.
He took command of the Sulu-based 11th Infantry Division on August 9, 2024, in a ceremony presided over by then Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo.
The Army press release said that during his command of the 11th Infantry Division, Peña sustained responsive and efficient operations in support of the division’s peace, security, and development mission in Sulu and Basilan.
Peña’s Military Education and Background
Peña is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sambisig” Class of 1991. He holds a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a Master in Public Management from the Development Academy of the Philippines.
Salvador Also Renders Exit Call
Brig. Gen. Salvador previously served as assistant chief of staff for operations (G3) and for education and training (G8) of the 5th Infantry “Star” Division. As 503rd Brigade commander, the Army said he led a peace dialogue between residents of Barangay Bugnay in Tinglayan, Kalinga, and Barangay Betwagan in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Salvador entered the service through the Officer Candidate Course in 1994 and holds a Master in Public Management, major in Development Security, from the Development Academy of the Philippines.
The Army leadership commended both officers for their dedication to supporting local peace processes and sustained dialogue, according to the release.
Successor Not Yet Named
The Army press release did not name Peña’s successor at the 11th Infantry Division, nor did it state his next assignment.
Photo credit: Photo by PFC Divino Lozano, PA/PAO, Philippine Army
Related stories
