John Bonafos named AFP Vice Chief of Staff

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. (right) hands over the symbol of the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff to Lieutenant General John S. Bonafos who assumed as the AFP’s new Vice Chief of Staff, in a ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday, Aug. 8 .PHOTO FROM AFP PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MANILA, Philippines — Lieutenant General John Bonafos, commander of Central Command, has been named as Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He assumed office on Friday at a change of command ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo.

He replaced Lt. Gen. Virgilio Domingo who served as the Vice Chief in an acting capacity after Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang vacated the post and became AFP Chief of Staff last month.

Bonafos is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982.

Before he was the commander of Central Command which holds jurisdiction of the Visayas region, he was the commander of the Army’s elite Special Operations Command based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

He also served as the commander of the AFP General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command.

He topped the Scout Ranger Course and finished the Instructor Training Course and Infantry Officer Advance Course in the US Army Infantry School.