ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 15, 2013) – President Benigno Aquino on Tuesday has named the head of army, General Emmanuel Bautista, as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Bautista, who belongs to the Class 1981 of Philippine Military Academy, will succeed General Jessie Dellosa who is retiring on January 20.
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Lieutenant General Emmanuel T. Bautista as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines effective January 20, 2013. He will be replacing General Jessie D. Dellosa who is set to retire,” Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
“We thank outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Dellosa for having served the country and our uniformed personnel with exemplary dedication and commitment. We look forward to the stint of the incoming AFP Chief of Staff in continuing the reforms set in motion by the President and implemented by his predecessors in advancing the interests of our soldiers and the enhancement of the defense capabilities of our country,” she added.
Senior military commanders in Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City and Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City earlier said they preferred Bautista to replace Dellosa.
“Gen. Bautista is a very good commander and hardworking and always maintains a low profile at work and despite the many accomplishments of the Philippine Army under his able leadership you will not hear or see him releasing information or holding news conferences to trumpet all these in the media.”
“He just let the higher headquarters do the talking while he works silently and effectively on the ground,” one army colonel told the Mindanao Examiner on Sunday. (Mindanao Examiner)
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