AFP names first female surgeon general

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced yesterday the appointment of its first female surgeon general, Col. Fatima Claire Navarro.

President Duterte approved Navarro’s new designation on June 28 following the recommendation of AFP chief of staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana and the board of generals.

Navarro will now be the special medical adviser of the defense secretary and the AFP chief of staff.

The Office of the Surgeon General is leading the AFP’s vaccination efforts and operations to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and exercises technical supervision over all medical treatment facilities and other medical service units in the AFP.

Navarro was designated as the deputy commander of the AFP Regional Task Force National Capital Region Comprehensive and Responsive Elements and led the task force in providing operational support to the National Task Force against COVID-19.

She officially took over as the 56th surgeon general in a ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, replacing Col. Nelson Pecache, who retired from active duty after 30 years in military service.

“I dream of an AFP health service that the soldiers can rely on, and that the Filipino people can continue to count on. An AFP health service that will save lives, heal wounds and continuously give hope,” Navarro said.

She is the former chief of the V. Luna Medical Center and served as chair of the hospital infection control committee from 2009 to 2020.