Amid continuing offensive against lawless elements in Mindanao, President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday appointed Major General Emmanuel Bautista as the new Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte made the announcement at Malacanang on the same day. She said Bautista will assume command tomorrow. Bautista replaces Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, who turns 56 on November 13.
Maj. Gen. Bautista is presently the Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, responsible for Internal Peace and Security Operations in the whole of Region VI and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region VII.
According to Valte, Bautista’s record has been exemplary, both in the field and in staff positions.
“Bautista has been decorated seven times in combat. Most notably, in his staff work, as J3 of the AFP, Maj. Gen. Bautista was primarily responsible for the formulation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan, “Bayanihan.”
“He shepherded the development of the plan from its conceptualization, development, writing, launching and implementation. He was able to mobilize the participation of different stakeholders in the planning process. The plan involves innovative approaches and paradigm shifts and is now the blueprint of the AFP in winning the peace,” Valte said.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, Maj. Gen. Bautista is also a graduate of the Joint & Combined Warfighting Course at the Joint Forces Staff College, Virginia, USA; the Grade II Staff and Tactics Course in New Zealand; as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
“With his appointment, the President believes that the Philippine Army will be able to build on the foundation of reforms instituted by Bautista’s predecessors in the Philippine Army, and will continue these reforms while orienting the Army to be a force for the maintenance of peace,” Valte added.
