Antonio G. Nafarrete appointed AFP chief, vows defense focus

Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete assumed command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, succeeding General Romeo Brawner Jr. during a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over the event, which marked the formal transition of leadership for the 160,000-strong military.

Nafarrete, the former Philippine Army chief, pledged to prioritize strengthening territorial defense and accelerating the military's ongoing modernization. He emphasized the armed forces are at a pivotal point, shifting from a primary focus on internal security operations toward a posture of comprehensive external defense. He outlined his commitment to operationalizing the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, a strategy designed to defend the country's entire archipelago, including its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

The new chief of staff takes command amid persistent tensions in the West Philippine Sea. He referenced a violent confrontation at Ayungin Shoal on July 20, where Philippine authorities accused Chinese forces of striking a Filipino sailor. Nafarrete stated that while the military seeks peace and...