Major General Antonio Nafarrete assumes as commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) on Wednesday, November 20, upon the retirement of Lt. General William Gonzales, the 18th commander of Westmincom. JULIE ALIPALA
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Major General Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, assumes in an acting capacity as the 19th commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
General Romeo Brawner Jr., the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, supervised the official turnover ceremony on Wednesday, November 20, at the open ground grandstand of Westmincom.
“The incoming commander of Western Mindanao Command has a big shoe to fill and we welcome our new commander of Westmincom, Major General Antonio Nafarrete,” Brawner said in his speech. “Di ko na sinabi (I did not mention as) acting (because) you act as the commander already. In fact, nung nagpipilian kami kung sino ang mag-aacting muna, sinabi ko na si Nafarrete na (when we were choosing who would take over the command as acting, I immediately said, it should be Nafarette so that) if the President signs (Nafarrete’s) designation order, hindi na ako pupunta dito (I don’t have to come here for the next change of command),” he added.
Nafarrete belongs to the Philippine Military Academy PMA “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990 and known to have vast combat experience from Kalinga-Apayao in the north, Negros in the Visayas and in the areas of Basilan, Maguindanao, Cotabato and Zamboanga Peninsula.
“We are going to do our best to comply with the marching order to finish the threats and continue the shift to territorial defense,” Nafarete said. “Since we will be shifting to territorial external defense, we have the timeline to finish the campaign, basically konti na lang yan and we will enforce everything.”
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He said he would seek the full support and help from the mayors, the communities, civil society, people’s and non government organizations in addressing and terminating threats to peace within areas of Western Mindanao Command.
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Brawner spelled out three major concerns for the new commander. “Finish with finality these threat groups, continue to shift to territorial defense (because) next year, we are facing another bigger challenge, the midterm elections and the BARMM election, whether it pushes or not,” Brawner said.
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Nafarrete took the command from Lieutenant General William Gonzales, who served as the 18th commander of Westmincom. Gonzales for a year and a month here before he retired on Wednesday, November 20, taking his oath as reservist after the change of command. He was a graduate of PMA Class 1989.