New Marine chief Rojas assumes post

Major General Arturo Rojas has assumed his post as the new commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), the naval infantry force said Wednesday.

The change-of-command ceremony was held at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Monday.

Rojas replaced Lieutenant General Charlton Sean Gaerlan, who was recently appointed as the new deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Rojas, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990, was the commander of the AFP's Special Operations Command before his new appointment.

He also served as the brigade commander of 2nd Marine Brigade in Tawi-Tawi and the deputy commander of Western Mindanao Command and later became the unit's acting commander.

Rojas spent his early military career with MBLT-3, MBLT-9, and 61st Marine Force Reconnaissance Company, where he focused on special operations.

He also has served as a security officer in the Department of National Defense for three years.

Rojas earned a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the US Naval postgraduate school in California in 2004 and Master in Public Management Major in Department and Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines in 2011. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News