The Armor "Pambato" Division welcomed newly promoted Maj. Gen. Facundo O. Palafox IV as its full-time commander in an assumption ceremony at Camp O'Donnell, Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac on January 25, 2023.
Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr.—who served as the ceremony’s guest of honor and speaker—also donned a second star to Maj. Gen. Palafox who took helm of the Pambato Division in acting capacity from Lt. Gen. Efren P. Baluyot on November 2022. Lt. Gen. Baluyot, who has since assumed as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command, also graced the ceremony.
Maj. Gen. Palafox held key leadership positions throughout his military career. He served as the Assistant Division Commander of Pambato Division and led various armor units such as the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade; the Civil-Military Operations Regiment; and the Office of the Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Philippine Army.
Maj. Gen. Palafox is a member of the Philippine Military Academy "Bigkis-Lahi" Class of 1990. He holds a Master in Public Management Major in Development and Security degree from the Development Academy of the Philippines.
Lt. Gen. Brawner, in his keynote speech, commended Maj. Gen. Palafox and his immediate predecessor Lt. Gen. Baluyot for the changes they had infused in the Pambato Division and for their high level of professionalism and exemplary management skills. The Army Chief specifically lauded the Pambato Division leadership for allocating funds for much-needed refurbishment of vital armor assets.
Photos by PFC Rodgen Quirante PA/ OACPA