A Philippine Military Academy steeped in more than a century of tradition welcomed new leadership on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, when Lt. Gen. Michael G. Logico raised his flag over Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar in Baguio City — stepping into the role of the academy’s 86th Superintendent just as his predecessor, Navy Vice Adm. Caesar Bernard N. Valencia, concluded more than four decades in uniform.
The joint change-of-command and retirement ceremony was presided over by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, according to PMA spokesperson Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Nestor Saludo Jr. It was notably the first major official function for Nafarrete in his new role — he had only assumed the AFP’s top post days earlier, following the retirement of Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. on Tuesday.
Promoted Before He Took Command
Before Logico could formally assume the superintendency, he first had to receive a new rank. Nafarrete pinned Logico’s third star during the same rites, elevating him from major general to lieutenant general — making the promotion and the assumption of command a single, continuous milestone witnessed by assembled troops and officials.
Logico is a graduate of PMA “Maalab” Class of 1993. Most recently, he served as commander of the Army Training Command and carries a concurrent designation as the 61st Commander of the Training Command, Philippine Army, Saludo confirmed. Over the course of his military career, Logico occupied key roles in joint training operations, doctrine development, and multinational military exercises, including serving as Executive Agent for AFP Joint Exercise DAGITPA and the Philippines-United States Exercise Balikatan.
His academic credentials are equally substantial. Logico holds three postgraduate degrees: a Master in Public Management from Ateneo de Manila University, a Master of Arts in Development and Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines, and a Master in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines.
A Voice on the West Philippine Sea — and a Barefoot Runner
Beyond his formal credentials, Logico is publicly recognised for his vocal stance on Chinese incursions into the West Philippine Sea — a position that has drawn attention both within and outside the military establishment. He is also an advocate of physical fitness and natural running, a pursuit that earned him the moniker “barefoot colonel” earlier in his career.
The ceremony also carried a personal dimension. Logico’s father, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Epineto Logico — himself a PMA alumnus from the Class of 1960 — was present in the audience. In his assumption remarks, the younger Logico acknowledged the significance of having his father witness the moment, making it a milestone that spanned two generations of PMA officers.
Logico’s Mandate: Prepare for Tomorrow’s Battlefield
In his assumption speech, Logico made clear that he intends to build on the institutional reforms carried out under Valencia while pushing the academy toward a sharper focus on the evolving character of modern warfare. He committed to ensuring that PMA graduates are equipped not just for the conflicts of the past, but for the complex threats that lie ahead.
“We cannot prepare for yesterday’s war. We must prepare for the next one,” Logico said, as quoted by the PMA in an official statement released following the ceremony. He added: “Our traditions remain important, but tradition must never become an obstacle to excellence.”
Logico argued that while internal security remains part of the military’s responsibilities, the strategic focus has decidedly shifted toward external threats. He identified the battlefield as now encompassing non-physical domains — including cyberterrorism — alongside conventional terrain.
AFP Chief Nafarrete, a member of PMA “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990 — the same class as the retiring Valencia — described the academy as the cradle of military leadership. He called on the institution to adapt to the demands of a changing world without abandoning the values of honor, humility, and integrity that have defined PMA for over a century.
Valencia’s Tenure: Two Years, to the Day
Valencia’s departure closed a chapter of structured, directive-driven reform at the institution. According to Saludo, Valencia served a military career totaling 40 years, 3 months, and 21 days. He held the post of 85th Superintendent from July 22, 2024 to July 22, 2026 — an exact two-year tenure, remarkable in its precision.
During those two years, Valencia oversaw sweeping changes to the academy’s academic and physical training programs. These included the rollout of an enhanced Bachelor of Science in Management Major in Security Studies curriculum, the institutionalisation of the “Faster, Stronger, Better” Physical Fitness Program, and a microcredential program covering PMA Classes 2025 to 2027. Saludo confirmed that international engagements for cadets also increased significantly under his watch.
Valencia also worked to forge and deepen strategic partnerships with government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. These relationships supported infrastructure modernisation efforts and preparations for the International Cadet Conference 2026. The PMA noted that Valencia’s reforms were carried out under directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., with the goal of producing officers capable of confronting modern security threats.
In his farewell address, Valencia described his stewardship as “a rare privilege like no other,” and said that every initiative undertaken during his tenure was aimed at ensuring cadets are “better prepared for the complexity of modern warfare” and that they would leave the academy better than it was when he first arrived.
Following established military tradition, Valencia formally relinquished the post by lowering his personal flag, after which Logico ordered his own flag raised. The Corps of Cadets rendered a testimonial parade in Valencia’s honour before the close of the ceremonies. Prior to leading PMA, Valencia had served as Philippine Navy vice commander, commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon, and chief of the Naval Staff.
By the Numbers
- 86th — Logico’s designation as PMA Superintendent
- 40 years, 3 months, and 21 days — Valencia’s total length of active military service
- July 22, 2024 – July 22, 2026 — Valencia’s exact two-year run as Superintendent
- PMA “Maalab” Class of 1993 — Logico’s graduating batch at the academy
- PMA Class of 1960 — the graduating class of Logico’s father, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Epineto Logico
- 3 postgraduate degrees — academic qualifications held by the incoming Superintendent
- PMA Classes 2025 to 2027 — cadet batches covered under Valencia’s microcredential program
Why This Matters
The simultaneous transition at the PMA and at the top of the AFP chain of command — both occurring within the same week — marks a compressed but consequential shift in the military’s uppermost leadership. Logico’s stated pivot toward external defense, modern warfare domains, and cyber threats signals a deliberate recalibration of PMA’s training philosophy away from decades of internal security focus. Valencia’s departure also closes an era of presidential- and defense-directed institutional reform, placing the burden on Logico to sustain and advance those gains under a new AFP leadership structure.
Source: Philippine Military Academy / AFP Public Affairs Office
