MANILA, Philippines - The new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief on Tuesday said he will prioritize "winning peace" and ensuring internal security of the country.
In a television interview, Army commander Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said he is optimistic that the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front would succeed.
"Ito (kapayapaan) ang kailangan ngayon ng AFP sapagkat lahat gusto natin ng tahimik. We have to win the peace because we owe it to our people to be able to establish peace so we can finally move forward," Bautista said.
The government and the Moro Islamic LIberation Front in October signed The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, "which will pave the way for the establishment of the new autonomous political entity, the Bangsamoro, to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao."
Bautista is the son of Brig. Gen. Teodolfu Bautista, who was killed after talking to Moro National Liberation Front rebels in Patikul, Sulu in 1977. The new AFP chief was a classmate of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima at the Philippine Military Academy class '81.
Bautista said he learned of his appoinment when it was announced on TV and said he was only able to talk to President Aquino when he was being interviewed for the AFP post.