EFFECTIVE tomorrow, September 30, 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Harold M. Cabunoc, PA will be the new chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Lieutenant Colonel Ramon “Demi” Zagala who will undergo a Command and General Staff Course in Australia effective November 1.
Last night, barely two days before assuming office as the new chief of the Public Affairs Office of the AFP, Lieutenant Colonel Cabunoc had his baptism of fire. His ability to respond to the crucibles of his new post was immediately tested when he took it upon himself to respond to the comments in a social media post by Zamboanga-based press people. The journalists were noticeably irked by their non-inclusion in the command conference happening that night at the Western Mindanao Command in the presence of AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang.
The press people who were commenting on the post, including myself, were unaware that Cabunoc, who is currently the Commander of the 7th incoming public affairs office chief.
The journalists’ chief complaint was the “shabby and discriminating treatment” against the local press and the preference for national media in the command conferences of the unified command.
Lt. Col. Cabunoc, who is known for responding with his ebullient personality, especially for his ability to engage people of various personalities in social media, did his best to appease the press people, surmising that the matter could be a simple case of miscommunication.
“Dapat lang na fair sa lahat ang coverage. Let us help fix the problem. If we will raise this issue properly, mas mapakikinggan. Punta ako d’yan very soon….Let’s help solve the problem. Kaya ‘yan,” Cabunoc said.
Responding to further comments, Cabunoc assured that he would talk with Westmincom Commander General Rusty Guerrero about the matter.
“Palagay ko, hindi intentional na mangyari ‘yan. Ang matinong public affairs officer ay gumagawa ng paraan na maitulay ang media sa kanyang organisasyon. Marami ding factors bakit minsan nagkukulang kami kahit gusto man naming gampanan lahat ng aming tungkulin. Solusyonan natin iyan ala Bayanihan style.”
Cabunoc is suitably prepared for his new post, starting in 2011 as the Deputy Chief of the Philippine Army’s Public Affairs Office, and later that year as the Army’s spokesperson.
In recent years he has completed two major international programs—the Eisenhower Fellowship Program in 2013 and the International Leadership Program in 2012.
Aside from military merit medals, he is also a recipient of various civil awards, including the Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) award in 2004 from the Metrobank Foundation and the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award in 2012 from the Civil Service Commission. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT/JOSEPHINE JARON CODILLA
.. Continue: Remate.ph (source)
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