In a heartfelt gesture, General Romeo Brawner Jr., the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), visited frontline soldiers as part of the celebrations marking the 89th founding anniversary of the AFP on December 21. During his visits from December 16 to 17, Brawner expressed his deep appreciation for the troops’ commitment, particularly those serving during the holiday season.
Brawner’s tour took him to various units across Luzon, including the Special Operations Command, Special Forces Regiment, Light Reaction Regiment, Army Aviation Regiment, Army Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry ‘Kaugnay’ Division, Installation Management Command, and the First Scout Ranger Regiment. Addressing the soldiers, Brawner praised their professionalism and patriotism, stating, “Your service and dedication, especially during this time of year, reflect your deep love for our country. The entire Filipino nation is proud and thankful for your sacrifices.”
The AFP, established on December 21, 1935, under the National Defense Act, has its origins in the Philippine Revolutionary Army.
In related news, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) held a blessing ceremony for five newly acquired S-70i ‘Black Hawk’ helicopters at the Haribon Hangar in Clark Air Base, Pampanga. These helicopters, part of a larger acquisition of 32 units from Poland’s PZL Mielec under the AFP Modernization Program, were delivered on December 9. The first batch of five helicopters had arrived on June 10. According to PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castilla, both batches underwent thorough technical inspections and acceptance procedures by the Department of National Defense, AFP, and PAF to ensure they met the necessary standards and specifications.