NEWS

AFP installs new WesMinCom Chief, military Inspector General

Lade Jean Kabagani · Nov 3, 2023, 4:42 PM

General Romeo S Brawner Jr, Chief of Staff, AFP (center) officiates the assumption of Lieutenant General William N Gonzales (left) as the new Commander of Western Mindanao Command and Major General Steve D Crespillo (right) as the new Inspector General, AFP during the joint Change of Command and Chief of Office Ceremony at Camp Navarro, Zamboanga City on Friday, 3 November 2023. (Photo by Pfc Richard Carmelotes/PAOAFP)

Former Armed Forces of the Philippines' Inspector General, Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, on Friday formally took over the helm of the military's Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City.

Gonzales, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1989, swapped post with Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo, who will take over as the new AFP Inspector General.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. presided over the joint change of command and chief of office ceremony at the Wesmincom Gymnasium, Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said Gonzales previously headed the Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Infantry Division in a concurrent capacity.

Crespillo, a member of the PMA Class of 1990, formerly served as Philippine Army vice commander and chief of the Office of the Army Ethical Standards and Public Accountability.

Trinidad said the joint ceremonies serve "as a symbol of continuity within the military organization.

"It also represents the AFP's commitment to maintain a high level of leadership as it continues to perform the mandate of protecting the people and securing the state," he added.