The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed MGen Ferdinand B Napuli, incoming Commander, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), in a Change of Command Ceremony held on May 7 at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. The event was presided over by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S Brawner Jr.
MGen Napuli, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992, steps into the post with a wealth of experience. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Inspector General of the Philippine Army and previously commanded the elite Special Forces Regiment (Airborne). He also holds a Master’s Degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines and Public Management from the University of the Philippines.
MGen Napuli succeeds BGen Patrick De Villa, who served in an acting capacity. BGen De Villa, now designated as SOCOM's Deputy Commander, was represented during the ceremony by Colonel Vladimir Lenos T Villanueva, Chief of Staff, SOCOM.
In his message, AFP Chief of Staff General Brawner expressed confidence in the continued excellence of SOCOM under MGen Napuli’s leadership, “I am confident that SOCOM will continue to be at the tip of the spear in defending our people, protecting our sovereignty, and confronting threats with speed and silent precision,” said General Brawner.
He emphasized that while the ceremony marks a transition in leadership, it also symbolizes enduring commitment and operational continuity, “We have reached the end of the ceremony, but the work of the Command—its vigilance, its readiness, its fight—never pauses. In fact, it continues with a renewed force," General Brawner added.
Photo by SSg Ambay/PAOAFP
