PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), replacing General Romeo Brawner who is set to retire on Tuesday
With Nafarrete’s appointment, AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Donald Gumiran will take over the Philippine Army.
Nafarrete is expected to pursue Brawner’s transition of AFP’s focus from internal security to external defense in accordance with the new National Security Policy.
The new National Security Policy embarks on recalibration of priorities — from modernization and retraining to the redeployment of forces in the Navy and Air Force amid the continuing tension at the West Philippine Sea.
Hence, the Philippine Army would have to work twice as hard to ensure internal security operations until after the Philippine National Police (PNP) gets familiarized with the new task.
Unless fired, Nafarrete would remain as AFP chief until July 2029 — or beyond Marcos’ term of office as stipulated under Republic Act 11939 which provided a fixed three-year term for AFP chiefs even after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 57.
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