Who is Donald Gumiran? The new PH Army chief

Lieutenant General Donald M. Gumiran has been appointed as the 68th Commanding General of the Philippine Army, succeeding Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, who was named the 61st Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Tanglaw-Diwa" Class of 1992, Gumiran belongs to a class that has produced several senior military leaders.

Before assuming the Army's top post, Gumiran served as commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), one of the AFP's unified commands responsible for security operations in Western Mindanao.

Earlier this year, he also headed the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division, overseeing military operations in Central and South-Central Mindanao.

Prior to leading the 6th Infantry Division, Gumiran commanded the 602nd Infantry Brigade in North Cotabato. He also held key leadership positions in the 7th Infantry Battalion, the 38th Infantry Battalion, and the 6th Infantry Division Training School.

A native of Cabagan, Isabela, Gumiran holds a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. — MCG, GMA News