Nafarrete Named AFP Chief in Transition

The Department of National Defense announced Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, succeeding General Romeo Brawner Jr. who retires after a fixed three-year term under RA 11939. Nafarrete, the current Philippine Army commanding general, will be replaced by Lieutenant General Donald Gumiran as Army chief. The change occurs amid the AFP’s ongoing transition from an internal security focus to external defense, a shift formalized in the National Security Policy in 2023. Under RA 11939, Nafarrete could remain AFP chief until 2029, pending presidential decisions. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been involved in the appointments, with a change-of-command ceremony scheduled to formalize the handover. The leadership reshuffle also includes Gumiran taking over as Army commander, signaling a broader realignment of AFP leadership across branches.