Barely two weeks into leading the 3rd Infantry Division, Joey Escanillas has been elevated to Major General by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete at Fort Bonifacio.

Promoted to three-star rank on the spot, Lt. Gen. Michael Logico formally took over as the 86th PMA Superintendent on July 22, vowing to prepare cadets for future warfare.

General Antonio Nafarrete assumed command as the AFP’s 61st Chief of Staff as President Marcos presided over the retirement of General Romeo Brawner, the first to complete a full three-year term under R.A. 11939.

Antonio Nafarrete formally took command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on July 21, 2026, becoming the 61st AFP Chief of Staff at Camp Aguinaldo.

Brigadier General Joey Escanillas assumed leadership of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division on July 15, 2026, succeeding a retiring commander who oversaw major gains against communist insurgents across the Visayas.

Acting on a voluntary tip from a civilian, Army troops dug up firearms and explosives hidden by communist rebels in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro on July 9, 2026.

Troops from three Army brigades conducted rescue and relief operations across nine municipalities in central Mindanao after heavy rains triggered widespread flooding on July 8 and 9.

Esmael Abubakar, the long-wanted head of the BIFF-Bungos Faction, was killed during a warrant-serving operation in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on July 5, 2026.

More than 450 Philippine Military Academy cadets witnessed an Olympic shooting demonstration at Fort Del Pilar, organized with the PSC and PNSA to broaden their athletic development.

A Japanese Air Self-Defense Force E-2D early warning aircraft touched down at Clark Air Base on July 2, 2026, marking the first time the advanced aircraft has ever landed on Philippine soil.

Marking its 79th year, the Philippine Air Force received a firm modernization commitment from President Marcos during ceremonies held at Villamor Air Base.

Separate military engagements in Bukidnon on June 21, 2026 left two NPA fighters dead and resulted in the seizure of three high-powered firearms from communist rebels.

Philippine and American forces concluded a six-day joint maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea, marking the fourth such bilateral drill between the two allies in 2026.

Allied troops from the Philippines and Australia conducted a joint coastal defense exercise in Pasacao, Camarines Sur on June 16, 2026, as part of the month-long Exercise Kasangga.

Twenty soldiers from the 104th Infantry Battalion finished a nine-day aviation interoperability course in Siasi, Sulu, as the 11th Infantry Division formally concluded AAOS Class 01-2026 on June 16.