Bautista is new Philippine Army chief

CEBU, Philippines - Malacañang formally announced yesterday that Major Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, after six months of leading the 3rd Infantry Division based at Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, was chosen commander of the Philippine Army to replace Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, who will retire on November 13.

Deputy Presidential Spokes person Abigail Valte said Bautista will be formally installed as the 54th commanding general of the Philippine Army in a turnover of command ceremony today at the Philippine Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

In choosing Bautista, Valte was quoted to have said that the outgoing 3ID chief is fitted for the position because of his background and training on field and staff operations.

"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," said Valte.

She added that President Benigno Aquino III trusts that Bautista will continue the reforms instituted by Ortiz.

"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.

Bautista, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, graduated from the Joint and Combined Warfighting Course at the Joint Forces Staff College in Virginia, USA and the Grade II Staff and Tactics Course in New Zealand. He also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines (UP) - Diliman.

Bautista is also the principal author and advocate of the new AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, which has been designed to win the war against communist insurgency.

The IPSP was crafted to serve as the guide in the performance of its mandated functions of protecting the state and the people. It helps AFP units in planning for and contributing to the attainment of internal peace and security. - THE FREEMAN