Rojas takes over as commandant of elite Philippine Marine Corps

By Charles Dantes

MAJOR Gen. Arturo Rojas on Wednesday assumed his new post as commandant of the elite Philippine Marine Corps.

Rojas was chief of the Special Operations Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) before taking over as PMC commandant.

He replaced Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan who was named deputy chief of the AFP.

The turnover of command was held on May 8 at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Rojas was also commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade in Tawi-Tawi and deputy chief of Western Mindanao Command, then later became the unit’s acting commander.

In his acceptance speech, Rojas underscored the PMC’s role in ensuring peace and security, adding that the Marines will always be ready

“to protect the nation without fear and without fail.”

Rojas is a native of Koronadal City and a decorated member of the Philippine Military Academy “BIGKIS LAHI” Class of 1990. He also spent his early military career with MBLT-3, MBLT-9, and 61st Marine Force Reconnaissance Company, where he focused on special operations during his period while being deployed all over the country. He spent three years with the Department of National Defense as a security officer.

Rojas also has degrees in Master of Science in Defense Analysis (Special Operation/Low-Intensity Conflict) from the U.S. Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California, USA in 2004 and a Master in Public Management Major in Department and Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines in 2011.

CAAP: Minimal flight delays amid PH airspace lock

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said it is expecting minimal flight disruptions during a two-hour airspace shutdown on May 17.

“Despite the temporary airspace closure, the CAAP expects only a minimal number of affected flights in two international gateways and several CAAP-operated airports,” said CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio.