2 AFP officials promoted to next higher rank

TWO RANKING  officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were promoted to the next higher rank during short ceremonies presided by outgoing AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Filemon Santos Jr., on Thursday.  

Receiving his second star after his promotion to major general was AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, while AFP Provost Marshal General, Col. Gerry Pulohanan, donned his first star as newly promoted brigadier general.

Santos administered the donning of ranks ceremony held at Silid Lapu-Lapu at the general headquarters building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

He congratulated the newly promoted generals for leading their respective offices, which are equally important in the overall accomplishment of the AFP’s mission.

“I wouldn’t have effectively fulfilled my role as the 53rd Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines if it weren’t for competent and reliable leaders like you who made the job significantly easier for me,” Santos said.

Arevalo currently leads the initiatives to increase the growing civilian support to the military and is in charge of the AFP’s external affairs by building bridges between the military and its stakeholders.

He was previously assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff for education and training at the general headquarters and served as commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Island.

Pulohanan leads the Office of the Provost Marshall General in maintaining discipline and order through promulgation and enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations within the military ranks.

Among his previous assignments were as the chief of the AFP’s Human Rights Office; air judge advocate of the Philippine Air Force; deputy chief of the AFP Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability; and force legal adviser of the United Nations.

“It doesn’t get easier from here on but may this moment serve as a reminder that all of your sacrifices are worth it, because they are acknowledged and rewarded accordingly. Most importantly, may this promotion motivate you to persevere more in the name of our service to God, country and people,” Santos said. (By Priam Nepomuceno)