LIEUTENANT General Noel Clement formally assumed as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff on Tuesday, September 24.
In a turnover ceremony held at the AFP grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, outgoing AFP chief of staff Benjamin Madrigal relinquished his post and passed it on to Clement.
Clement who was born in Lipa, Batangas is a member of Philippine Military Academy Sandiwa class of 1985. He served as commander of the Cebu-based Central Command prior to assuming the top post of the AFP.
He had also held various positions including the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the AFP General Headquarters, where he responsibly assisted the Chief of Staff in formulating, evaluating, analyzing and reviewing plans, programs and policies pertaining to operations, organizational development, deployment of forces, and strategic Campaign of the AFP from September 2016 to May 2017.
Prior to his assumption as commander of the Cebu-based AFP Central Command in November 2018, he was the commander of the 10th Infantry (AGILA) Division, where he responsibly assisted the stakeholders in creating a just and peaceful environment conducive to sustainable development in the area of responsibility.
In an interview, Clement expressed confidence that with his experience he is ready to lead the AFP amid the challenges it is facing.
He will have a “participative form of leadership” where he will engage his men, particularly the commanders in implementing the programs of the AFP.
He assured his men that he will “always be willing to listen” before making any decision for the organization.
Clement said having a good communication and participation within the organization will be a big help in fast-tracking implementation of programs.
In his speech, he also vowed to strengthen the focused and surgical operations against the enemies of the state as well as to address insurgency and armed conflicts in various areas.
“On our operational engagements we will remain committed to ending armed insurgency. Similarly our focused operations will be sustained and surgically conducted on those who threatened the peace in our communities. The enemies of peace will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
“I therefore call on the leftover of a lost cause, peace is not elusive. We have worked with your comrades. We have worked with our people, we engage communities who now partakes of the fruits of our peaceful endeavors. Therefore I enjoy the remaining peace spoilers to work with us,” he added.
He assured that under his watch, the AFP will remain professional and non-partisan and that he will be a “staunch defender and advocate of human rights, respectful of international humanitarian law but at the same time assuring the rule of law." (SunStar Philippines)