TWO RANKING officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were promoted to their next higher rank on Tuesday.
Promoted and donning his third star was Lt. Gen. Franco Nemecio M. Gacal, inspector general of the AFP and previously a major general.
Meanwhile, former brigadier general and now Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, commander of the AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC) and concurrent military spokesperson, got his second star rank.
AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon T. Santos, presided over the donning ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo.
“Lt. Gen. Gacal’s impressive service record in various operational assignments will certainly have a significant impact (on) his current post as Inspector General, AFP. I am confident that he shall continue to institute innovations, particularly in the conduct of annual general inspections on various major AFP units amidst the challenge of the (coronavirus disease 2019) Covid-19 pandemic,” Santos said in his speech.
After the ceremony, Gacal was given military honors at the General Headquarters Canopy.
Before his current post, Gacal was commander of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Eastern Mindanao and commanded the 402nd Infantry Brigade in 2016.
He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988 with expertise in resource management and managerial acumen.
He took his Master in Strategic Studies, Peace and Security Stabilization Course, International Fellows Academic Preparatory Course, and Joint Professional Military Education at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, the United States.
Meanwhile, Santos congratulated Arevalo for handling his concurrent positions as AFPETDC commander and AFP spokesperson.
“With Maj. Gen. Arevalo’s experiences in conveying AFP messages and facts as a seasoned defender and builder of the AFP’s image, I am certain that there will be significant improvements, particularly in the conduct of training and skills development for the whole Armed Forces,” he said.
Arevalo previously held positions concurrent with his responsibilities as AFP spokesperson and this includes assistant deputy chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations (CMO), and as acting commander and deputy commander of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP.
He also held positions as commander of the CMO Group and spokesperson of the Philippine Navy, and was assigned at the PMA as military instructor for five years.
Arevalo is a member of PMA Class of 1990 and a decorated Marine, a Counselor-at-Law and Notary Public, author, educator, crisis communicator, and a dedicated CMO practitioner.
“I am privileged in recognizing the ascension of our honorees in AFP’s hierarchy. This is a testament that the AFP is indeed filled with individuals who are committed, and capable of carrying great responsibilities in serving our nation and the people,” Santos said. (By Priam Nepomuceno)
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