The appointment of Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has drawn strong support from the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines Inc., led by sportsman and businessman Brig. Gen. Mikee Romero (Res.), owner of GlobalPort and Capital1 and a world-ranked polo player.
Romero, who serves as ARRAPI chairman, joined the association in hailing Nafarrete’s elevation as the 61st AFP Chief of Staff, describing the decorated general as a longtime advocate of the country’s reservist movement.
“Gen. Nafarrete is the quiet champion of the reservist movement,” the association said following his installation on Tuesday, July 21.
Along with ARRAPI president Col. Vladimir Mata (Res.), Romero said Nafarrete has consistently championed the welfare and professional development of reservists throughout his military career.
Also extending his congratulations was boxing legend and ARRAPI board member Col. Manny Pacquiao (Res.).
The ARRAPI Board likewise pledged its full support to Nafarrete, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1990, who previously served as Commanding General of the Philippine Army after assuming the post on July 31, 2025.
According to the association, Nafarrete earned the respect of reservists during his stint as commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) before leading the Philippine Army by opening more opportunities for reserve personnel.
Under his leadership, reservists were given greater access to training, professional development, and operational activities alongside their counterparts in the regular force.
ARRAPI also cited Nafarrete’s strong backing of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and the Total Defense Force Concept, recognizing reservists as an indispensable component of the country’s defense capability.
Among his landmark initiatives was awarding the Philippine Army Aviation Badge to a reservist for the first time in the Army’s history, reflecting his belief that reservists who meet the same standards of professionalism and competence deserve equal recognition and opportunities.
“General Nafarrete has consistently shown through his actions that there should be no distinction between regular and reserve personnel when it comes to dedication, competence, and service to the nation,” the association said. “He has been a quiet but steadfast champion of the reservist movement.”
The association added that under Nafarrete’s leadership, the AFP is well-positioned to further strengthen the integration of the country’s approximately 180,000 active-duty personnel with its more than one million ready and standby reservists, reinforcing the Total Defense Force Concept and ensuring that both regular and reserve forces stand ready to defend the nation as one AFP.
