MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has named Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to replace Gen. Gilbert Gapay, who will reach the compulsory retirement age on Feb. 4.
“We are confident that General Sobejana will continue to modernize our military and undertake reform initiatives to make the Armed Forces truly professional in its mandate as the protector of the people and the State,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Sobejana is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987 and is the first in his class to rise to the highest post in the military.
Like Gapay, he will be a short-term AFP chief as he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 31.
Sobejana had received the Medal of Valor, the military’s highest honor, as a young captain who was severely wounded in leading his platoon against Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan.
—Julie M. Aurelio