LIEUTENANT General Bartolome Bacarro assumed office on Monday, August 8, 2022, as the 58th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The AFP turnover of command was graced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and education secretary Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio at the AFP Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
In his speech, Bacarro said he used Marcos’ call for "Unity," an acronym of his priority plans which stands for:
*Unparalleled Professionalism
*Noble Utilization of resources
*Invigorating Capability
*Tenacity in Sustaining Gains
*Yearning for Service Excellence
Bacarro enjoined the men and women of the AFP to sustain, if not surpass, the organization’s gain in increasing the public’s approval and trust ratings over the years.
He urged members of the AFP to sustain the current state of discipline and adherence to the rule of law as the defenders of the country.
Amid the effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, which stretched the country’s funds to its limit, the AFP is challenged to fulfill and succeed to its mission with the budget that is allocated to them.
Bacarro urged the soldiers to put a high premium on time, which he also consider as a resource.
“By putting a high premium on time we can effectively manage all our resources better. Determine urgent and immediate needs to better allocate resources,” he said.
The newly installed AFP chief of staff also ensured that all acquisition processes in the agency’s modernization program followed the rule of law.
He said the AFP will endeavor to continue forwarding its self-reliance defense posture program to make the AFP par with nations in the region
Bacarro said the AFP under his helm will not squander in sustaining the gains for internal and external security, especially in the fight against insurgency.
He said they will continue their collaboration with the peace stakeholder to cure the ills of the nation especially on local communism, terrorism and even in battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bacarro reiterated that every member of the AFP should personally commit to be the best version of themselves as they perform their duties and responsibilities in securing the country.
“Each member of the organization has a vital role to play in achieving the vision and mission of the AFP to be a world-class armed forces that is a source of national pride by 2028,” he said.
Marcos, for his part, vouched for Bacarro who is a medal of valor awardee, the highest award a soldier can get, for displaying “conspicuous acts of courage, gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”
Bacarro is a member of Philippine Military Academy Maringal class of 1988.
He was awarded following a 10-hour encounter with 150 fully-armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who attacked the town of Maconacon, Isabela on February 26, 1991.
“We will all know now that we have a reliable partner in the AFP under the helm of General Bacarro as we commence the difficult undertaking of rebirth and restoration of the republic. Transforming the country into a haven that is safe, secure, peaceful and prosperous for all present and future Filipinos to enjoy,” said Bacarro.
Marcos said that although he knows that what Bacarro has taken into his shoulder after accepting the job is not easy, he is confident that he will pave the way for a much improved and stronger AFP in the days ahead. (SunStar Philippines)