'Bolstering the ranks:' Roldan officially named AFP's Top 2 man
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr (left) hands over the office symbol to Lieutenant General Rommel P. Roldan as he assumes his post as Vice Chief of Staff, AFP during the Joint Assumption of Office and Donning of Ranks Ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 20, 2026. (Photo: AFP)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) formally installed Philippine Air Force (PAF) Lt. Gen. Rommel P. Roldan as its new vice chief of staff, the second highest position in the military, it was revealed on Wednesday, April 22.
AFP Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. presided over the assumption ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, April 20.
Roldan was serving as the AFP vice chief of staff in an acting capacity since March 11 following the retirement of Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida. He handled day-to-day coordination of major commands and helped sustain operational continuity across the military organization.
And before this, he was the deputy chief of staff, the third-highest post in the organization, where he oversaw key strategic and operational initiatives within the AFP.
In the same rites, Brawner also donned new ranks to Vice Admiral Alan M. Javier and Brig. General Phillipp G. Alvarez Jr.
Javier continues to serve as Chief Naval Staff of the Philippine Navy while Alvarez leads the AFP Counter-Intelligence Group.
“The event highlighted the AFP’s enduring tradition of recognizing merit, dedication, and leadership among its officers. These milestones reflect the institution’s continuous effort to strengthen its leadership foundation as it advances its vision of building a Strong AFP for a Strong Philippines,” the AFP said.