Salamat is new Nolcom chief

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Marine Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat to lead the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), replacing Lt. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo, who retires this week.

“[Salamat] will continue the advocacy of the previous commander of Nolcom, who is also a Marine, which is to secure our interest in [Philippine] Rise and protect our borders, secure and protect our interests,” said Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., spokesperson for the military.

Tanalgo retires on Tuesday, when he turns 56 years old, the mandatory retirement age for the military and the police.

A retirement parade for Tanalgo will be held on the same day at Bonifacio Naval Station, headquarters of the Marines, in Taguig City.

Padilla said Tanalgo would turn over the post to Salamat on Monday at Nolcom headquarters in Camp Gen. Servillano Aquino in Tarlac.

Salamat is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985.

He is a fellow of the Center for Defense and Strategic Studies of the Australian Defense College, “which equips its students with the competency to operate at the strategic level,” said Col. Edgard Arevalo, the Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs chief.

Salamat also has a master’s degree from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. —Nikko Dizon