PRESIDENT Duterte has designated the deputy commander of the military unit in charge of securing him and members of his family as commander of the Army’s Special Forces Regiment Airborne (SFRA).
Col. Ferdinand Napuli took command of the elite unit on Wednesday in rites presided over by Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. at the SFRA headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
Napuli succeeded Col. Eliglen Villaflor, who took over as acting SFRA commander last January 29 after the retirement of then SFRA commander Brig. Gen. Lincoln Francisco Tagle.
Villaflor held the top SFRA post in concurrent capacity as SFRA deputy commander. With Napuli taking over as SFRA commander, Villaflor will be back as full-time SFRA deputy commander.
Napuli has held key military positions in field operations, intelligence, civil-military operations, and training in the past.
Before taking over as PSG deputy commander in October 2020, Napuli served as the PSG inspector general. He had previously commanded the 19th Special Forces Company and 3rd Special Forces Battalion and also served as commandant of the Special Forces School in 2014.
Brawner spoke highly of Villaflor and Napuli, both members of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1992.
“I am grateful to Col. Villaflor for his sterling leadership while looking over the morale and welfare of the paratroopers. This right blend of courage and determination we also see in Col. Napuli,” said Brawner.
Napuli expressed gratitude and appreciation for their trust and confidence in appointing him as SFRA commander. His designation was endorsed by the AFP Board of Generals and approved by Duterte last March 4.
“I will make the most out of this opportunity,” Napuli said. “We will sustain our gains and build momentum in taking a more active role in national defense through our unconventional warfare capability.”
The SFRA, which has about 5,000 personnel, is involved in the campaign against various threat groups like the New People’s Army.
