Combat veteran named Army chief

MANILA, Philippines -  President Aquino yesterday appointed Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as the next Army chief, replacing Medal of Valor recipient Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Nov. 13. 

Aquino, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), will lead the 54th Philippine Army change of command and testimonial review in honor of Ortiz today at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

“He (Bautista) will be the 54th Commanding General of the Philippine Army and will assume command today (Wednesday),” presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte announced in a statement yesterday.

Bautista is the second commanding general of the Army to be appointed by Aquino.

Bautista is currently the commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. He is responsible for Internal Peace and Security Operations in Region VI and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region VII.

“His record has been exemplary, both in the field and in staff positions. Bautista has been decorated seven times in combat,” Valte said.

Valte noted Bautista was also 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.

Bautista is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981. He is 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; and has a master’s 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 said.

Bautista, for his part, sees his appointment as a challenge and vowed to ensure the success of the military’s security plan Bayanihan.

“It is an honor to have been designated as commanding general (of the Army). It is an opportunity and I take it as a challenge to do good for the Army,” Bautista said in an interview.

Bautista said he would also pursue the Army transformation roadmap to promote reforms in the 80,000-strong institution.

“We will continue the accomplishments of (retiring Army chief Lt.) Gen. Arturo Ortiz,” he said.

Bautista, whose father Brig. Gen. Teodulfo Bautista was killed by Muslim rebels in Sulu in 1977, promised to implement the “all-out justice” order of President Aquino.

“Whatever the policy of government, we will carry out. We are implementers of policy,” he said.

Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc described Bautista as a “warrior-leader” and a “seasoned combat officer.”

AThe Philippine Army welcomes the appointment of a highly respected and credible officer, General Bautista. His vast experience as a frontline leader and as a staff officer in all levels of command will surely make the difference,T Cabunoc said. 

Col. Arthur Ang, Bautista’s classmate and commander of the 901st Brigade, said the incoming Army chief is qualified for the post. Bautista and Ang belong to PMA Class ’81.

“He (Bautista) is known for his superb managerial skills due to his extensive experience in the various staff positions in Army headquarters and even in general headquarters,” Ang said.

“He is very focused in his work which at times, is mistaken by others as being a ‘snob’ but in fact, he is a very approachable and friendly person,” he added.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Bautista is an officer who likes to work closely with civilian stakeholders.

 Maj. Gen. Bautista spearheaded the crafting  of the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan during his stint as deputy chief of staff for operations,M Burgos said.

He described Bautista as “a seasoned advocate of a whole-of-nation approach” in addressing insurgency.

Bautista’s father, Teodulfo, was killed by secessionist rebels in Patikul, Sulu on Oct. 10, 1977 during the time when he was a freshman cadet in the PMA.

As a young lieutenant, Bautista served in Mindanao as a platoon leader of the 26th Infantry Battalion from 1981-1983. He also saw action in the Visayas region as the leader of the 7th Scout Ranger Company from 1987-1989.

Bautista also held key posts in the Armed Forces Retirement and Benefits Separation System, the Civil Relations Service, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, Office of the Internal Auditor and the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs

He was also assigned as senior military assistant of former defense secretary Avelino Cruz Jr.

Bautista received the Gold Cross medal for gallantry in action, the third highest military award given in combat and several Military Merit Medals. – With Alexis Romero