A change-of-command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, marked the start of a new chapter for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete of the Philippine Army formally took the helm as the institution’s 61st Chief of Staff. He replaced General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., who stepped down after completing an unprecedented tenure at the top of the AFP’s uniformed hierarchy.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally led the ceremony and paid tribute to outgoing chief Gen. Brawner for his contributions to the armed forces, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Brawner’s Historic Exit
Gen. Brawner’s retirement carried a significance beyond the routine of military transitions. Under Republic Act No. 11939 — a 2023 law passed to end the decades-long practice of frequent and short-lived tenures at the AFP’s top post — Brawner became the first AFP chief to serve out a full, fixed three-year term. The law was specifically designed to introduce continuity and institutional stability into military leadership at its highest level.
With Nafarrete moving up to AFP chief, Lieutenant General Donald Gumiran, who previously commanded the Western Mindanao Command, has been tapped to take over as Commanding General of the Philippine Army, according to the AFP.
From Iloilo to the Academy to the Battlefield
Nafarrete was born on February 22, 1969, in Manila, but grew up in Iloilo City, where he completed his early education at Calinog Elementary School. He later earned his degree from West Visayas State University before entering the Philippine Military Academy. The youngest of six children, he was raised in a household shaped by both law and education — his father was a lawyer and his mother a teacher.
He graduated from the PMA as part of the Class of 1990, known as the “Bigkis-Lahi” class, and was commissioned into the Philippine Army on February 18, 1990. His first assignment was as a platoon leader with the 10th Infantry Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division, stationed in Zamboanga del Sur.
A Scout Ranger Through and Through
Nafarrete built much of his military identity through the Scout Rangers — the Philippine Army’s elite special operations force known for its expertise in counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, jungle warfare, and special reconnaissance, as the AFP has described the unit. He was among the founding members who helped organize the 1st Scout Ranger Company under the 1st Infantry Division when the First Scout Ranger Regiment was reactivated on January 16, 1991.
He took command of the 6th Scout Ranger Company in 1996 and went on to serve as intelligence and operations officer of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, followed by a stint as intelligence officer of the First Scout Ranger Regiment from 1997 to 1999. These formative years in special operations would define the arc of his military career in the decades that followed.
From Malacanang Security to Mindanao Command
Between 2003 and 2007, Nafarrete was attached to the AFP Joint Special Operations Group. He subsequently commanded the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion across the Visayas from 2008 to 2010, before transitioning to the Presidential Security Group, where he rose through the ranks — first as assistant chief of staff for operations, then as chief of staff — serving in that capacity from 2010 to 2015 during the administration of then-President Benigno Aquino III.
Following his time at the PSG, Nafarrete took command of the 1101st Infantry “Gagandilan” Brigade in Sulu. There, he launched the Balik-Barangay Program in Patikul, an initiative aimed at facilitating the return of civilians displaced by armed conflict in the area.
His service in Mindanao deepened further as he led the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan. He also chaired the Government of the Philippines Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front — a role that put him at the center of sustaining the Bangsamoro peace process — while concurrently serving as deputy commander for administration of the Western Mindanao Command.
Nafarrete subsequently assumed full command of WestMinCom before being named the 67th Commanding General of the Philippine Army on July 31, 2025. He held that post until his elevation to the AFP’s top position this month.
Training and Academic Background
Beyond his operational record, Nafarrete has invested significantly in formal military and academic education. His training credentials include the U.S. Army Ranger Course at the U.S. Army Infantry School, the Joint and Combined Warfighting Course at the National Defense University in the United States, and the Comprehensive Security Response to Terrorism Course at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii, according to the AFP.
On the academic side, he holds a master’s degree in management with a major in public administration from Philippine Christian University. He is married to Dr. Patrizia Nafarrete, and together they have twins: Antonio Miguel and Anna Mikaela.
Priorities Set by the New AFP Chief
In his assumption speech, Nafarrete outlined a broad agenda for his term at the helm of the AFP. He vowed to strengthen the military’s territorial defense capabilities, press forward with modernisation programs, and deepen existing defense partnerships, according to the AFP. He also committed to consolidating the gains made in internal security operations and upholding the country’s active peace agreements.
Among his most emphatic pledges was the defence of Philippine sovereign territory in the West Philippine Sea. On the human side of leadership, Nafarrete stressed that troop welfare would remain central to his priorities, declaring that “every soldier matters” and committing to programs covering personnel development, morale, health, education, and financial literacy.
By the Numbers
- 61st — Nafarrete’s position in the line of AFP Chiefs of Staff
- February 22, 1969 — His date of birth in Manila
- February 18, 1990 — Date of his commissioning into the Philippine Army
- January 16, 1991 — Date the First Scout Ranger Regiment was reactivated
- 2010–2015 — Years he served with the Presidential Security Group under the Aquino administration
- July 31, 2025 — Date he was appointed 67th Commanding General of the Philippine Army
- 3 years — Fixed term completed by outgoing AFP chief Gen. Brawner under Republic Act No. 11939
Why This Matters
The transition carries institutional weight because it follows the first-ever completion of a fixed three-year term by an AFP chief under Republic Act No. 11939, a reform intended to end the revolving-door pattern that had historically weakened continuity in military leadership. Nafarrete brings to the role a career that spans elite special operations, peace negotiations with the MILF, and national-level security responsibilities — a breadth of experience that positions him to manage both the AFP’s internal agenda and its external commitments. His stated focus on the West Philippine Sea, military modernisation, and troop welfare outlines the strategic course the AFP is set to chart under his command.
Source: Armed Forces of the Philippines / BreakingNewsNegrosOriental.com
