Philippine Military Academy Names First Female Commandant of Cadets

Colonel Leah L. Santiago, a 1997 graduate who earned the Academy’s first female summa cum laude, was sworn in on October 17 as the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) first female commandant of cadets. Santiago, one of the original 17 women admitted in 1993 under Republic Act No. 7192, finished third in her class and later served in a variety of Army roles, including senior tactical officer at PMA and assistant chief of staff for personnel. At the change‑of‑command ceremony in Baguio City, she pledged to shape future officers with integrity, competence and a willingness to learn from their weaknesses. Her appointment marks a milestone in the Academy’s evolution toward gender inclusivity and signals a new era of leadership training for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.