Who is Antonio Nafarrete, the new AFP chief?

Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete on Tuesday became the 61st Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), succeeding General Romeo Brawner Jr.

Nafarrete is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990, the same class as his predecessor as Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido.

Born on February 22, 1969, he grew up in Iloilo after spending his early childhood in Manila. He attended Calinog Elementary School and later graduated from West Visayas State University before entering the PMA.

Nafarrete is married to Dra. Patrizia Nafarrete, and blessed with twins, Antonio Miguel and Anna Mikaela Nafarrete.

Before becoming Army chief, Nafarrete built much of his career in Mindanao, serving in commands involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.

He previously headed the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), where he oversaw joint military operations against communist insurgents and local terrorist groups.

He also commanded the 1st Infantry Division, Joint Task Force Zampelan, and held leadership posts in the 11th Infantry Division, the 1101st Infantry Brigade, and the AFP’s operations staff (J3).

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Nafarrete as the 67th Commanding General of the Philippine Army in July 2025.

During his stint as Army chief, Nafarrete emphasized preparing the force for modern warfare by investing in technology, organizational reforms, and interoperability with allies.

He has said the Army’s modernization efforts should be tailored to the Philippines’ archipelagic geography and evolving security environment rather than simply copying foreign military models. —VAL, GMA News