AFP chief leads promotion ceremony for 13 senior officers

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete presided over the donning of ranks ceremony for 13 newly promoted senior military officers at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, 9 November.

The ceremony recognized officers assuming higher ranks and leadership responsibilities across the military's intelligence, operations, logistics, training and administrative units.

Among those promoted were Lt. Gen. Benedict Balaba, commander of the AFP Intelligence Command; Lt. Gen. Moises Micor, commander of the AFP Visayas Command; and Rear Adm. Marco Buena, AFP deputy chief of staff for education and training.

Also promoted were Brig. Gen. Bladimer Caluya, chief of staff of the AFP Joint Sustainment Command; Commodore Archibald Dino Delfin, commander of the AFP Logistics Support Command; and Commodore Michael Barrion, assistant deputy chief of staff for financial management.

Other newly promoted officers were Brig. Gens. Cezar Conte Jr., chief of staff of the AFP Strategic Command; Rizaldo Laurena, assistant deputy chief of staff for reserve force development; Emmanuel Canilla, chief of staff of the AFP Intelligence Command; Ruben Aquino, chief of staff of the AFP Civil-Military Operations Command; and Randy Espino, deputy chief of the AFP Intelligence Service.

Commodore Ariel Halasan, the AFP provost marshal general, and Brig. Gen. Leah Santiago, commandant of cadets at the Philippine Military Academy, also received their new ranks.

Nafarrete said the promotions underscored the AFP's commitment to developing competent military leaders and maintaining a professional, mission-ready organization.

The AFP said strengthening its leadership corps remains essential to improving operational readiness and fulfilling its mandate to protect the country and serve the Filipino people.