New Army ‘Tabak’ commander assumes post

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. installed on Thursday the new commander of the First Infantry (Tabak) Division.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete assumed his post as Tabak commander in ceremonies held at Camp Sang-An in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Nafarrete replaced Brig. Gen. Jose Randolph Sino Cruz, who held the post since Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio retired on July 9.

Sino Cruz was named assistant division commander.

Nafarrete and Sino Cruz both belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1990.

Prior to his appointment as Tabak commander, Nafarrete was deputy chief for internal defense operation of the Western Mindanao Command.

He served as chairman of the joint government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities and as former commander of an Army brigade in Sulu that helped in the campaign against Abu Sayyaf bandits.