Marcos Appoints Army Chief Nafarrete as New AFP Chief of Staff

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos has appointed Philippine Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete as the 61st chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense announced Tuesday. Nafarrete will replace AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., who will retire today. Meanwhile, Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) chief Lieutenant General Donald Gumiran will take over as the Philippine Army commanding general. "The DND congratulates Lieutenant General Nafarrete and Lieutenant General Gumiran on their appointments and looks forward to their leadership in upholding professionalism, excellence, and dedicated service to the Filipino people," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement. Nafarrete served as chief of the WESMINCOM in November 2024. He also commanded the 1st Infantry Division and the Joint Task Force Zampelan of WESMINCOM. The new AFP chief held various leadership positions in the 1101st Infantry Brigade, 11th Infantry Division, as well as in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, AFP. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990. —AOL, GMA News