Lt. Gen. Noel Clement will formally assume command of the 135,000-strong military on Tuesday.

Clement will succeed Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, as the 52nd Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the retirement and change of command ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand Camp of Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

President Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest of honor and speaker while high-ranking members of the government, military, police and the diplonatic corps are expected to attend.

The 55-year-old Clement, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Sandiwa Class of 1985, said that he expects to make an immediate impact in the military’s anti-insurgency campaign. He will leave behind the AFP-Central Command.

In order to defeat the decades-old problem of communist insurgency, Clement said there is a need to tap the help of other sectors of society as well.

“Yes, that’s why I think I will have to engage more sectors so that many will join in the fight and to immediately solve the problem,” Clement said in a phone interview.

“It shouldn’t be just the Armed Forces or local government units who are fighting this problem. It has to be the whole country, the whole nation. This is a national problem so we have to address this as a people, collectively, so there will be lasting peace in the country],” Clement said.

Clement assured he will not neglect their other campaigns against terrorism and territorial defense.

“Well they are continuing programs and some of them are going to take long term, like the territorial defense. We still have to develop the capability so we will continue with our modernization program so we can address that,” Clement said.

Clement, at the same time, thanked President Duterte for the “honor and blessing” to lead the AFP.

“Of course I am honored with the designation and I thank the president for giving me his trust and confidence,” Clement said.

Madrigal is set to retire from military service on Saturday, 28 September.

Clement was installed as the 21st commander of the Central Command on 16 November 2018.

Born on 5 January 1964 in Lipa, Batangas, Clement studied at DOLE Philippines School, Stella Maris Academy of Davao and one year as a Commerce major at Ateneo De Davao before entering the PMA in 1981. He also underwent trainings abroad

Clement is likewise a multi-decorated officer with four Distinguished Service Star medals, one Outstanding Achievement Medal, three Bronze Cross Medals, two Meritorious Achievement Medals and various other awards and commendations for his excellent performance.