July 31, 2024 | NEWS DIGEST

 

By API Desk | Date 07-31-2024

 

Teodoro: CADC consistent with Marcos’ dircective on WPS

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the defense department’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) was consistent with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr’s directive on the West Philippine Sea.

The CADC aims to broaden the strategic depth of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to protect the country’s forces within the country’s legal boundaries, which includes the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and extended continental shelf.

“As expounded by the President, we are relentless in pursuing the modernization of the AFP, with our efforts to further develop our capabilities as well as partnering with like-minded states to enhance our interoperability and promote regional stability,” Teodoro said in a statement.

Guided by the President’s direction, Teodoro said they fully support efforts through appropriate diplomatic channels and established mechanisms to manage differences with other countries.

 

Army installs new division commander in Mindanao

The Philippine Army has installed a two-star general as the new division commander in Central Mindanao, replacing another general who reached the mandatory age of retirement.

Army chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido installed Major Genera Antonio Nafarrete as commander of the 6th Infantry Division (ID) based in Maguindanao del Norte, the division at the forefront of fighting against several Islamist militant groups.

Nafarrete is a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1990. He succeeded Major General Alex Rillera, of the PMA class 1991, who is due to reach the retirement age of 57 on July 30.

Nafarrete was last posted as commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga del Sur. 

But, for unknown reasons, he was relieved in October last year and was succeeded by Major General Gabriel Viray III, who was previously the military’s deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations.

Nafarrete has also served deputy commander for internal defense operations of the AFP Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City and the commander of an Army brigade in Sulu.

 

Armed Forces awards medals to US Special Forces in Mindanao

The Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) has awarded medals to members of the US Special Operations Task Force 511.2 (SOTF 511.2) at the end of their tour in the southern Philippines.

Brigadier General Taharudin Ampatuan, deputy commander for Internal Defense Operations of WestMinCom, awarded the Military Civic Action Medal to SOTF 511.2 commander Major Wesley Dyson and his team.

The award was in recognition of US Special Forces’ valuable contributions to the mission accomplishment of the command during their six-month assignment in Mindanao.

The US Special Forces were first deployed in Mindanao in 2002 after al Qaeda was blamed for the World Trade Center bombing in New York.