The former Army Internal Auditor formally assumed as the Commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) during a Change of Command Ceremony at the 8ID headquarters in Camp Gen Vicente Lucban, Catbalogan, Samar on Thursday, October 6.
Brig. Gen. Raul M Farnacio, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class of 1985, will be the new commander, replacing Maj. Gen. Jet B Velarmino, whom retired from the military service after serving the military for 34 years and served as 8th ID commanding general for three years from September 2013 to 6 October 2016.
Prior to his most recent assignments, Farnacio commanded the 901st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division based in the Bicol Region.
Previously, he has served under the 8ID as Executive Officer of the 43rd Infantry Battalion and the 801st Brigade, and later as Commanding Officer of the 20th Infantry Battalion and 43rd Infantry Battalion.
He also became the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, G2, 7th Infantry Division; and Chief of the Unified Command Staff, Central Command, AFP.
In his message, Farnacio emphasized the need for soldiers in Eastern Visayas to have more ascendancy and support the programs of their commander-in-chief.
“If we expect to achieve in our mission to bring peace and progress, we need to make ourselves worthy implementers, therefore I enjoined the brigade, battalion and even company commanders to be on the forefront of moral ascendancy in your respective units,” Farnacio said.
“We have to intensify our cooperation with local government units, agencies and stakeholders from the public and private sector to help the local insurgents return to the peace table and talk with our partners in the government to bring an end to these decades of insurgency,” he added.
He then reminded members of the Philippine Army to never use illegal drugs or even engaging in drug related activities.
