FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City — Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Joey A. Escanillas received his second star on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, just two weeks after taking command of the unit responsible for Western and Central Visayas and the Negros Island Region, including Negros Oriental.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete conferred the rank of Major General on Escanillas at the Philippine Army Officers' Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, the division said in a statement.
Second Star Two Weeks After Assuming Spearhead Division Command
Escanillas assumed office as the 36th commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division on July 15 at Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, succeeding Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, who had retired from active service. He held the rank of brigadier general at the time of the command turnover.
Prior to his elevation as division commander, Escanillas served as the 3ID's assistant division commander, giving him direct familiarity with the unit's operational terrain and command structure before stepping into the top post.
A native of Alimodian, Iloilo, Escanillas shares provincial roots with Nafarrete, who himself assumed the AFP's top post on July 21 as the 61st chief of staff following the retirement of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Familiar Face in Negros Oriental Security Circles
Escanillas is not a newcomer to the security landscape of Negros Oriental. He previously commanded the 302nd Infantry Brigade, the Philippine Army unit covering Negros Oriental and parts of Central Visayas, during a period the military marked as significant in its campaign against communist insurgency in the region.
It was during his tenure with the 302nd Brigade that the military declared the dismantling of the New People's Army's southwest front under the NPA's Negros regional committee — a milestone the Army cited as a major counterinsurgency achievement in the island province.
Beyond Negros Oriental, Escanillas also held a top leadership role in Joint Task Force Cebu, further broadening his command experience across the Visayas before ascending to the division level.
Priority: Blocking Insurgent Resurgence in Panay and Negros
At his assumption ceremony on July 15, Escanillas outlined the division's immediate operational priorities, according to the 3ID statement. Chief among them is preventing remaining armed elements — residual NPA units — from regaining a foothold in Panay and Negros before the division transitions fully to its territorial defense mission.
Alongside counterinsurgency operations, Escanillas said the division will sustain its disaster response role in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and local disaster risk reduction and management offices across its area of responsibility.
The 3ID's area of responsibility spans Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and the Negros Island Region — a strategically and geographically diverse expanse that presents both security and humanitarian response demands.
Division Cites Promotion as Reflection of Leadership
The 3rd Infantry Division, in its statement, said the promotion reflects Escanillas' leadership and commitment to service. The division added that it strengthens the Spearhead Division's resolve to secure peace and stability across its area of responsibility.
The conferment ceremony took place at the Philippine Army Officers' Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, with AFP Chief of Staff Nafarrete personally presiding over the promotion rites.
By the Numbers
- July 15, 2026 — Date Escanillas assumed command as 3ID's 36th commander at Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz
- July 21, 2026 — Date Gen. Nafarrete assumed office as the AFP's 61st chief of staff
- July 28, 2026 — Date of Escanillas' promotion to Major General at Fort Bonifacio
- 36th — Escanillas' place in the line of 3ID commanders
- 61st — Nafarrete's designation as AFP chief of staff
- 2 weeks — Time between Escanillas' assumption of command and his promotion to Major General
Why This Matters
The promotion of Escanillas to Major General solidifies leadership continuity in one of the Philippine Army's key operational divisions, which covers a wide swath of the Visayas including Negros Oriental — a province with a documented history of NPA activity. His previous command of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, which directly covered Negros Oriental and parts of Central Visayas, means the newly promoted general brings direct, ground-level experience with the security challenges in the division's area of responsibility. With the 3ID now under fresh senior leadership and the AFP itself under a new chief of staff, the command's stated priority of preventing insurgent resurgence in Panay and Negros will be closely watched in the months ahead.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army