CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – After serving in the Armed Forces of the Philippines for 36 years and 3 months, Brigadier General George L. Banzon, the Assistant Division Commander of 4ID, bid farewell to his military career in a Testimonial Parade-in-Review and Retirement Ceremony at Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, July 1, 2024.
Major General Jose Maria R Cuerpo II and other 4ID Officers, Brigade and Battalion Commanders, Enlisted Personnel, Civilian Human Resource (CHR), as well as BGen. Banzon’s family, Mistah, and friends attended the ceremony which paid tribute to BGen Banzon’s distinguished service to the country and people as he officially concluded his active military duty.
During the ceremony, BGen Banzon was honored with the Distinguished Service Medal for his meritorious performance of major responsibility, the Plaque of Honorable Service for his 36 years and 3 months of faithful and honorable service, and a Command Plaque for his invaluable service as ADC of 4ID. He also received a Framed Medal representing all the combat and administrative awards and decorations he earned throughout his military service and the Philippine flag as a symbol of the nation’s gratitude for his dedicated service and sacrifice.
A Cavalier and proud member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992, BGen Banzon pursued further education, completing the Command and General Staff Basic and Regular Course at the Republic of Korea Army College, a Master’s in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, and a Master’s in Public Management Major in Development and Security at the Development Academy of the Philippines. Additionally, his training included UN Military Observers’ Methods and Techniques for serving on a UN Observer Mission, Enterprise Risk Management Development and Risk-Based Assessment Training, and the Professional Directors Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Before serving as the Assistant Division Commander of 4ID, BGen Banzon competently fulfilled and held various important roles in the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including Chief of the Office for Strategic Studies and Strategy Management (OSSSM) at General Headquarters, AFP; Brigade Commander of the 901st Infantry (Fight ‘Em) Brigade, 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, PA; Chief of Unified Command Staff at EASTMINCOM; and Chief Operations Secretary of the Office of Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3, 4ID, among others.
One of his notable achievements was his leadership as the Brigade Commander of the 901Bde for more than three years, where his dedicated service led to significant accomplishments in combating terrorism and insurgency, particularly the dismantling of Guerilla Front (GF) 16, Sub-Regional Sentro De Gravidad (SRSDG) Northland, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Northland, resulting in the declaration of Surigao del Norte as insurgency-free; the dismantling of GF21 and GF30 and weakening of SRC Westland including the Regional Headquarters (RHQ) of the so-called North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
BGen. Banzon also took oath as a reservist and was officially incorporated into the reserve force.
In his message, Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, Commander of 4ID, commended BGen Banzon’s successful tenure as the Assistant Division Commander and his illustrious military career, acknowledging his significant contributions to combatting terrorism and insurgency. He also expressed gratitude for BGen Banzon’s 36 years of dedicated service, assuring that his legacy within 4ID will endure and continue to inspire others.
