The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has appointed an experienced infantry officer who also specializes in civil-military operations (CMO) as the new commander of the military units covering Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), and Bicol Region (Region 5) with hopes of ending the insurgency problem in those areas.
Major General Facundo Palafox IV was formally installed as the commander of the Southern Luzon Command (SolCom) during a change of command ceremony presided over by General Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, at Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena, Quezon on Saturday, March 2.
Palafox replaced Lt. Gen. Efren Baluyot, who retired from the service after over 39 years.
In his speech, Brawner challenged all SolCom personnel to continue their support to their new commander and strengthen their resolve as part of a united AFP.
"We only have one armed forces. We should remain solid and professional under one banner. If we have a strong AFP, we will have a strong nation that is capable of resisting those that threaten our territory and sovereignty," he said.
The AFP chief also congratulated Baluyot and thanked him for his nearly four decades of dedicated service to the country.
Before moving to SolCom, Palafox was the commander of the Philippine Army's Armor Division, a combined arms organization composed of tank, cavalry and mechanized infantry units, since January 2023.
His brilliance enabled him to climb the leadership ladder as he went on to serve as the commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry (Magbalantay) Brigade in 2019; commander of the Army's Civil-Military Operations Regiment in 2018; and Philippine Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations in 2017.
Palafox spent his formative years as an infantry officer with the 22nd Infantry (Valor) Battalion under the 2nd Infantry Division in the Bicol Region as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer.
He was born in Dagupan City on May 2, 1968, and grew up in Baguio City where he studied elementary and high school. He later took up BS Math-Physics at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Baguio. He entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1986 and graduated as a member of PMA "Bigkis-Lahi" Class of 1990.
He is also a graduate of local basic and advance armor courses; and specialized in Civil-Military Operations. He finished the Joint Tactical Civil-Military Cooperation Course (CIMIC) in Brisbane, Australia and graduated Top 2 at the Class-56 of the Command and General Staff Course (CGSC). He also has a Master’s Degree in Public Management Major in Development and Security with the Graduate School for Public Management of the Development Academy of the Philippines.
Palafox received various military awards for his contributions to the service including three Distinguished Service Stars, two Distinguished Service Medals, a Meritorious Achievement Medal, two Silver Cross Medals, Gawad sa Kaunlaran, Gawad sa Kapayapaan Medal and Ribbon, Chief of Staff AFP Commendation Medal and Ribbon, 29 Military Meritorious Medals and numerous Military Commendation Medals. Moreover, he is also a distinguished recipient of the coveted University of the Philippines' Centennial Award for Public Safety and Administration in 2008.
He is married to Anna Lissa Velarde Adriano, and they have three children - Angela Grace, Louis Andre, and Anna Frances.