• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete assumed the command of the Philippine Army on July 31 in a ceremony held at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, succeeding Lt. Gen. Roy Galido.
Nafarrete, a native of Calinog, Iloilo, was installed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the change of command and retirement ceremony witnessed by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Previously, Nafarrete served as the commander of the AFP Western Command, 1st Infantry Division and the Joint Task Force Zampelan, 1101st Infantry Brigade, and also as the AFP’s J-3 operations staff.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1990, Nafarrete had also been assigned for more than a year in Negros Island as commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion.
Nafarrete said that his leadership would focus on “human capital development,” noting that the strength of any military lies in its personnel.
“Our true strength does not only lie in the weapons we wield, the equipment we acquire, nor the technologies we adopt. It lies in you, our personnel,” Nafarrete told the 110,000-strong Philippine Army.
He said his focus is on recognizing the sacrifices and steadfastness of all Filipino soldiers serving the country.
“Under my command, our focus will be centered on human capital development. A mission within our vision, to invest not just in what we fight, but in who fights,” Nafarrete said, noting that “a high-morale Army is a resilient Army.”
Aside from building a culture of respect and pride, Nafarrete also pledged to recognize service and reward excellence.
“We will ensure that career paths are clear, skills are recognized, and opportunities for growth are accessible to all, from the newest private to the most seasoned NCO (non-commissioned officer). We will foster an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered,” he said. | GB with PNA reports
