Unified Command Commanders News Today

Newly-appointed Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday, January 17 confirmed there were indeed “rumblings” within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) but clarified that is was due to the "unintended consequences" brought about by the enactment of the new law that set fixed terms for h

Philippine Navy vice commander Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia (Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy) MANILA - Philippine Navy (PN) vice commander Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia willlead the force as acting flag-officer-in-command, replacing outgoing chief Vice Adm. Adeluis Bordado. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro confirmed this in a message to reporters Thursday. Valencia served as Naval Forces Northern Luzon commander in 2019 before bei...

Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, commander of the Armed Forces the Philippines - Southern Luzon Command as new AFP chief of staff, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles announced on Monday. "The change of command for the new AFP chief of staff will be on August 8. This will give time for Gen. Bacarro to wind down at the SOLCOM and provide him with the transition to his new position in Camp Aguinaldo,&quot...

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (Photo from Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Facebook page) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said it has been an honor for him to serve and make a difference as the country's 36th defense chief. "Karangalan ko ang makapaglingkod bilang ika-36 na Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa. Salamat sa inyong tiwala at suporta! (It was an honor for me to serve as the 36th National Defense Secretary. Thank you for your trust ...

(Photo courtesy of Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Facebook page) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is honored to have worked with President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose leadership he described as "people-centered". "Thank you, PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) Sir! It's both an honor and a privilege to serve the nation under your exceptional and people-centered leadership," he said in his Facebook post on Thursday. In the...

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (File photo) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has worked hard for the Philippines to attain a credible defense posture to protect its vast maritime territories. "The Department also steadily worked towards achieving a credible defense posture through priority infrastructure development in the Municipality of Kalayaan, construction of maritime domain awaren...

In one of my earlier columns on the subject of the AFP “revolving door” syndrome, I mentioned that in the first 21 years of the 21st Century, the AFP had 28 chiefs of staff, with presidents Gloria Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte each appointing eleven during their time in office. It was the exact opposite of what took place during the Martial Law years when one AFP chief stayed in the position for nine long years, effectively blocking the ambitions of other aspirants for the four stars of the off...

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law fixing the term of key officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and increasing the mandatory

Duterte approves law prescribing fixed term for military officials, raises retirement age

SALUTE. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino (center) greets Philippine Army staff and personnel during avisit at their headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig on April 12, 2022. He is the longest-serving military chief since 2014 as he will be in office for 449 days or until he reaches the compulsory retirement age of 56 on Feb. 4, 2023. (Photo courtesy of PH Army Facebook) MANILA - The new law that sets a fixed term for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) chief of staff an...