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<\/p>\nFILE PHOTO: Camp Aguinaldo, General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Photo from Radyo Inquirer)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur \u2013 A Mindanaoan is now the brand new Philippine Marine Corps Commandant within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Major General Arturo Rojas acquired the official appointment from Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr., transmitted to him by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin final April 25.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new appointment really is an answered prayer,\u201d Rojas advised the Inquirer by Messenger.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is every Marine officer\u2019s dream. But the journey to this position is not a walk in the park. I have worked so hard to prepare myself to be one of best since joining the Philippine Marines 33 years ago in 1990,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Rojas persistently adopted the profession ladder of a marine officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI completed all billets from platoon, company, battalion, group and brigade level. I hold two Master\u2019s degrees on top of the required professional military education courses. I spent most of my deployments in Southern Mindanao. Thus, I believe I am prepared to assume the duties and responsibilities of the commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, which is truly a demanding one,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
As the brand new commandant, Rojas stated he can be accountable for getting ready marine forces to assist the necessities of the Unified Commands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe overwhelming show of support that I continue to receive since the day that the appointment went out is truly inspirational. I would use this to be able to muster all I can to deliver all mandated tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rojas was born in Koronadal, South Cotabato on May 28, 1968 and entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1986. He belongs to the PMA Class Bigkis Lahi of 1990.<\/p>\n
After his commencement, he joined the Philippine Marine Corps and spent the early a part of his navy profession with the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3\u00a0(MBLT3), the MBLT9 and the 61st Marine Force Reconnaissance Company.<\/p>\n
He specialised in particular operations throughout his deployment within the provinces of Sulu, Bulacan, Quezon, Basilan, Kalinga Apayao, and within the cities of Zamboanga and Cotabato.<\/p>\n
He was skilled and accomplished programs in primary airborne, jumpmaster, scuba diving, scout ranger, intelligence, explosive and ordnance, positive shock city, jungle setting survival, power reconnaissance and officers\u2019 psyops.<\/p>\n
Following his completion of the corporate commander\u2019s billet in 1997, he spent three years with the Department of National Defense (DND) as safety officer and aide-de-camp of Secretary Fortunato Abat and Secretary Orlando Mercado.<\/p>\n
After his stint within the DND, he was deployed within the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor in 2000.<\/p>\n
Rojas was deployed as Marine Special Operations Group commander from 2014-2016 and later as 2nd Marine Brigade deputy commander from 2016-2017, as deputy commander of Western Mindanao Command in 2021-2023.<\/p>\n
Later, he grew to become the appearing commander of Westmincom. He was the commander of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) when he acquired the appointment as the brand new commandant.<\/p>\n
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