HEADLINES
Nafarrete named AFP chief; Salceda joins Cabinet
‘From the perspective of law enforcement, the situation would become chaotic. It was a matter of national security.’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday appointed Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and former Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda as secretary of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO).
The Department of National Defense (DND) said Nafarrete will succeed Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., who retired on Tuesday. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., upon the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., confirmed the appointment.
The DND also named Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, as the new commanding general of the Philippine Army.
“DND congratulates Lieutenant General Nafarrete and Lieutenant General Gumiran on their appointments and looks forward to their leadership in upholding professionalism, excellence, and dedicated service to the Filipino people,” DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990, Nafarrete is a career Scout Ranger with more than three decades of military service. He has held key posts including commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, chief of staff of the Presidential Security Group, commander of the 1st and 6th Infantry Divisions, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, and Army commanding general.
He also led the Balik Barangay program in Patikul, Sulu to help displaced families return home and chaired the government panel overseeing the ceasefire mechanism with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Nafarrete holds a master’s degree in public administration from Philippine Christian University and completed advanced military training in the Philippines and the United States, including the US Army Ranger Course. He is a recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor, Distinguished Service Star, Gold Cross Medal and Bronze Cross Medal.
Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed Salceda’s appointment, marking his return to the Cabinet nearly two decades after serving as presidential chief of staff in 2007.
A six-term lawmaker known as the House of Representatives’ resident economist, Salceda chaired the Appropriations, Ways and Means, Economic Affairs, and Trade and Industry committees. He also served as governor of Albay, where he championed disaster risk reduction and climate resilience programs, including the Zero Casualty Doctrine.
Before entering politics, Salceda worked as a research director for UBS, SBC Warburg and ING Barings. He also served as the first Asian co-chair of the UN Green Climate Fund and was recently tapped by the Supreme Court as amicus curiae on budget issues.
“I thank President Marcos for the trust and confidence... I humbly accept the immense challenge of passing the remaining major items of the President’s policy agenda,” Salceda said, adding that he aims to transform the PLLO into a genuine policy office while serving as a bridge between the President, Congress and the private sector.