Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro has chosen an experienced officer in security operations and intelligence to head the primary military task force operating in Metro Manila.
Colonel Alexei Musñgi was installed as the new commander of the Joint Task Force – National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), a post where he is expected to get his first star, on Monday, Oct. 24, at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Musñgi will head the military task force dedicated to ensure that Metro Manila is free from terrorism and insurgency while acting as a support unit to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining peace and order in the capital region. The task force also conducts humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in times of calamities in Metro Manila.
Musñgi replaced Brig. Gen. Marceliano Teofilo, who assumed as the chief of the AFP Intelligence Service in July.
Bacarro, who presided over the ceremony, emphasized the importance of the JTF-NCR in shaping the overall stability and development of the country.
“Handling this immense responsibility entails expertise in security operations, intelligence, and inter-agency collaboration in order to address multi-faceted security concerns and promptly respond to emergencies,” the AFP Chief said.
And Musñgi is up to the task.
Prior to the post, Musñgi served as the commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade where he led the military operations against terrorist groups and insurgents in parts of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Cotabato Province in Region 12, and Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental in Region 11 since February of this year.
From 2019 to 2021, he also worked as the assistant chief of staff for operations (G3) at the headquarters of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
He also handled other special duties in the Army such as director of the Joint Command Training Center of the AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command (ETDC); commanding officer of the 24th and 48th Infantry Battalions of 7th Infantry Division (7ID) in Central Luzon; and assistant chief of staff for operations of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) based in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
Musñgi is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maalab” Class of 1993. He finished various advanced infantry and general staff courses here in the Philippines, and a defence and strategic course in Australia. He holds two Master's degrees in Public Management, the first one with major in development security and the other in international relations.
Bacarro expressed confidence that Musñgi will be able to “steer the JTF-NCR into addressing the complexities of Metro Manila’s security environment.”
“His wealth of knowledge in intelligence, operations, and civil-military engagements, training, and personnel management shall enhance JTF-NCR’s capabilities in performing various roles in keeping the security and stability of Metro Manila,” Bacarro said.