API Desk | September 12, 2026
Armed Forces installs new intelligence chief
MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has installed a new acting head of the military intelligence command to replace retiring Lieutenant General Ferdinand Barandon, who reached the mandatory retirement age.
Armed Forces chief of staff General Antonio Nafarrete honored General Barandon and recognized his contributions to the military, particularly the intelligence branch.
“You leave behind a capability that the AFP needs and will continue to develop,” Nafarrete told officers and men of the intelligence command.
Nafarrete installed Marine Major General Ronald Juan as acting commander of the AFP Intelligence Command.
He called on General Juan to build on the foundation established by General Barandon and ensure the delivery of timely, accurate, relevant, and reliable intelligence to support AFP operations and decision-making.
Philippines, Singapore plans to elevate defense partnership
SINGAPORE — The defense ministries of the Philippines and Singapore held their 9th defense policy dialogue, where they planned to expand and elevate security relations.
In a statement, the Philippine defense department said the annual dialogue served as a bilateral platform for exchanging views on regional security developments, reviewing the overall state of bilateral defense relations, and identifying potential areas of cooperation to address shared interests and concerns.
During the 9th DPD, the two officials exchanged views on regional security developments, including developments in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the broader South China Sea (SCS), acknowledging the role of defense partnerships among like-minded countries in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region.
Both countries also reviewed and updated the Five-Year Defense Engagement Plan, which outlines priority initiatives on maritime security, cyber defense, urban counter-terrorism, among others, as well as discussed the way forward for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, noting that Singapore will assume the chairship in 2027.
At the sidelines, Assistant Secretary Marita Yoro held separate engagements with MINDEF Permanent Secretary (Defense) Joseph Leong, MINDEF Policy Office Director Brigadier General Daxson Yap, and His Excellency Medardo Antonio G. Macaraig, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore.