Head of AFP's munition control center to retire Monday

From the Philippine News Agency (May 6): Head of AFP's munition control center to retire Monday

Brig. Gen. Gerry Amante, the military officer responsible for developing the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) capability to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, will retire from service on Monday.

He will step down after 37 years in the AFP, public affairs office chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, has said.

Amante's retirement ceremony will take place at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club.

“A retirement ceremony befitting a dedicated military officer will be held on Monday afternoon in honor of Brig. Gen. Amante. Lt. Gen. Salvador Melchor Mison Jr., the AFP vice chief of staff, will preside over the ceremony,” he added.

Amante has been the head of the AFP Munitions Control Center (AFPMCC) since 2014.

He also represented the Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP in the meetings of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

The AFPMCC is charged with ensuring the reliability and adequacy of the AFP’​s​ munitions, and the development of the military's defense capabilities against CBRN threats.

“We in the AFPMCC created a core philosophy as a creative team of dedicated professionals who will see to it that munitions of soldiers are reliable adequate and accounted for,” Amante said.

He also said that developing the AFP’s CBRN capability, slowly but surely, has been one of the priorities of the AFPMCC during his stint as commander.

“We already created a CBRN unit in the AFP that is one of the standards in our region. The CBRN platoon is already doing headway and it is being deployed in national events, even being recognized as one of the best in the country,” Amante stated.

Prior to commanding the AFPMCC, Amante held key positions that contributed to the AFP modernization, logistics and transformation initiatives.

In 2012, then a colonel, Amante was tasked to organize and lead the newly created Army Governance and Strategy Management Office, which was tasked to pursue the implementation of the Army Transformation Roadmap.

“Brig. Gen. Amante is a dedicated military officer who has worked tirelessly in contributing to the AFP’s goal of becoming a more credible and modern military force. His dedication to his duty is worth emulating by our men and women in the Armed Forces,” AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Año said.

Brig. Gen. Noelito Albano, Northern Luzon Command deputy commander, is set to assume headship of the AFPMCC.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/985538