Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Antonio G. Nafarrete personally placed new rank insignia on 13 officers during a Donning of Ranks Ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, November 9, 2026, the AFP Public Affairs Office announced.
The ceremony was detailed in a press release issued the same day by Colonel Xerxes A. Trinidad, Chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office.
Senior Officers Among the Newly Promoted
Lieutenant General Benedict D. Balaba of the Philippine Army is Commander of the Intelligence Command, AFP, according to the AFP Public Affairs Office press release.
Lieutenant General Moises L. Micor of the Philippine Air Force is Commander of the Visayas Command, AFP. Rear Admiral Marco N. Buena of the Philippine Navy is Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Training, J8, the AFP Public Affairs Office confirmed.
Ten Other Newly Promoted Officers
Ten additional officers received their new ranks during the same ceremony. Brigadier General Bladimer B. Caluya of the Philippine Marine Corps is Chief of Staff of the Joint Sustainment Command, AFP.
Commodore Archibald Dino C. Delfin of the Philippine Navy is Commander of the Logistics Support Command, AFP. Commodore Michael G. Barrion of the Philippine Navy is Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, AJ10.
Brigadier General Cezar J. Conte Jr. of the Philippine Army is Chief of Staff of the Strategic Command, AFP, while Brigadier General Rizaldo N. Laurena of the Philippine Army is Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development, AJ9.
Brigadier General Emmanuel A. Canilla of the Philippine Army is Chief of Staff of the Intelligence Command, AFP, and Brigadier General Ruben G. Aquino of the Philippine Army is Chief of Staff of the Civil-Military Operations Command, AFP.
Brigadier General Randy N. Espino of the Philippine Army is Deputy Chief of Intelligence Service, AFP, while Commodore Ariel C. Halasan of the Philippine Navy is The Provost Marshal General, AFP.
Philippine Military Academy
Brigadier General Leah L. Santiago of the Philippine Army is Commandant of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, according to the AFP Public Affairs Office,
AFP Statement on the Ceremony
The AFP Public Affairs Office stated in its press release that the donning of ranks ceremony "underscores the AFP's commitment to developing strong leaders and building a professional, competent, and mission-ready organization in service of the Filipino people." General Nafarrete personally conferred each of the new rank insignia on the 13 officers, according to photo captions released by the AFP Public Affairs Office.
Source: AFP Public Affairs Office