MANILA, Philippines?Major General Reynaldo Mapagu is the new Army chief, officials from the Department of National Defense said Thursday.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales has confirmed Mapagu's appointment as the new commanding general of the Philippine Army, said Agapito Lugay, head executive assistant to the defense chief.

"It's Mapagu. ?It's final,? he said, ?and you can pass it to media?," Lugay said, quoting Gonzales.

The Philippine Army top post was vacated by General Delfin Bangit when he was appointed chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Bangit replaced General Victor Ibrado, who retired exactly on his 56th birthday Wednesday.

In a telephone interview, Mapagu expressed gratitude for naming him the new Army chief.

"I'm really humbled and honored by the trust and confidence given by the commander in chief," Mapagu said.

He vowed to work with the ?interest of the country at heart and perform really our mission with excellence."

Mapagu promised to ensure his troops will remain non-partisan, especially with the upcoming elections.

"We will be non-partisan. We will work in tandem with the Comelec in ensuring an honest, orderly, peaceful and credible election,"Mapagu said.

Mapagu also vowed to step-up the drive to crush the four-decade-old communist insurgency in the country.

"We have made a lot of gains so we will sustain that and even push further our efforts so that we can really make the communist insurgency inconsequential by June," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military to rid the country of communist insurgents before her term ends in June.

Prior to his appointment as army chief, Mapagu served as commander of the National Capital Region Command.