President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed newly installed Philippine Army (PA) Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, to build a resilient, highly capable force focused on defending national sovereignty while remaining agile in disaster response.
Speaking during the 68th Philippine Army Change of Command Ceremony in Taguig City, President Marcos expressed full confidence in Lt. Gen. Gumiran, citing his extensive background as former commander of the Western Mindanao Command and an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College.
“Continue the mission. Preserve the Army’s strong sense of duty. Keep faith with our soldiers,” President Marcos told the incoming Army chief. “You take command as the Army continues its transition towards external defense. Build a force capable of securing the land domain, supporting joint operations, and contributing fully to defending our sovereignty and asserting our territorial integrity.”
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Territorial & Domain Security: Accelerate the Army’s ongoing strategic transition toward external defense, ensuring full integration with joint military operations to protect the nation’s land domain and territorial integrity.
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Rapid Disaster & Relief Deployment: Maintain a highly deployable force capable of swift action during natural calamities, particularly amidst severe monsoon rains. The President emphasized the Army’s critical role in search, rescue, and relief operations to reach isolated communities.
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Integrity and Constitutional Duty: Lead with discipline and integrity, ensuring all military personnel remain strictly aligned with the Republic’s defense priorities while safeguarding the trust of the Filipino people.
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Soldier Welfare First: Prioritize the well-being, training, and support of individual soldiers alongside ongoing modernizations.
The Chief Executive reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) while championing social support initiatives for service personnel and their families.
“We will give you the tools to do your job, the support to do it well, and the confidence that the nation stands behind you,” President Marcos assured. “Sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas, maraming salamat sa inyong tapang, malasakit, at sakripisyo.” (To everyone who makes up the Philippine Army, thank you for your courage, compassion, and sacrifice.)
Lt. Gen. Gumiran assumes command as the Philippine Army continues to align its operational capabilities with evolving regional security challenges and climate-related operational demands.
