A new man at the helm

Congratulations to Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista who is the new Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief of Staff. I find it very personal on my part to greet him even if I don’t know him personally. I was a civilian employee at General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in the mid-70’s and we were able to go to the wake of his late father, BGen Teodulfo Bautista who was ambushed in 1977 together with his soldiers, and the then The Adjutant General, whose name I fail to recall. The generals were there to have a dialogue with Muslim rebels.

It was so heartbreaking to see so many coffins, if I remember right, about 40 of them at the HPA Gymnasium where the victims lay, their families grieving, and all uniformed personnel there also sharing their grief and loss. I felt so sad then and mourned myself in private for two weeks. I have been working with soldiers and I identified with them.

I know that the late BGen Bautista would have been so proud of his son who has achieved, and is achieving so much in the mission of the AFP. He is an accomplished officer and his appointment as the new Chief of Staff is well-deserved. These are blessings and recognition that have returned to Lt. Gen. Bautista whose father’s commitment to service caused him his life.