The Philippine Army welcomed Lt. Col. Emmanuel L. Peñera as the new Chief of the Army Operations Center (AOC) in a Change of Chief of Office Ceremony at the Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on August 15, 2023.
Lt. Col. Peñera served as Deputy for the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) prior to his new designation. He held key staff and command positions such as Executive Officer of the 1st Special Forces Battalion (SFBn), Special Forces Regiment Airborne (SFRA) in 2017; Commanding Officer of the 2nd Special Forces Company, 1SFBn, SFRA, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in 2015; and Headquarters Commandant, 5th Special Forces Battalion, SFRA, SOCOM in 2014. Lt. Col. Peñera is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Mandala” Class of 2006.
Meanwhile, outgoing Chief AOC Lt. Col. Eric B. Alfonso also served as the Deputy for the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of the 11th Infantry "Alakdan" Division in 2021. He held positions such as the Chief of the Tactical Operations Center, 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division in 2020; Assistant Division Chief of Anti-Terrorist Division (ATD) of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, OJ2, Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2019; and Assistant Division Chief of Intelligence, Research and Analysis Division (IRAD) of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, OJ2, Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2017. He is a member of the PMA “Maliyab” Class of 2004.
Col Jason V. Jumawan, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3 extended his gratitude and best wishes to both incoming and outgoing Chiefs of AOC.
Photos by Sgt. Josel P. Sucayan