Duterte offers post to outgoing AFP chief Gapay: Your choice MWSS or DND

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday offered outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay a post on either the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) or the Department of National Defense (DND).

“My warmest congratulations to General Gilbert Gapay for your successful duty as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Duterte told Gapay in his speech at the AFP change of command ceremony.

“Sir, after tonight, you might want, you might opt to take the MWSS vacated by [Administrator] Gen. [Emmanuel] Salamat or you might also choose to be with your home ground, the DND. It’s your choice,” he added.

Duterte also lauded Gapay for inspiring the AFP troops “to risk their lives to contain the pandemic and providing essential humanitarian assistance to our people” when the Philippines faced the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Your example of hard work and excellence has set a high standard not only for you and those around you, but most especially for the institution’s future leadership, the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

Gapay was replaced by former Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana as AFP Chief-of-Staff.

Sobejana is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Hinirang” Class of 1987.

Meanwhile, Duterte also expressed confidence that under the leadership of Sobejana, “the AFP will achieve even more milestones in its campaign to address insurgency and terror, and put an end to all these threats to our national security.”

“Through our joint efforts in building the road to recovery during the pandemic, I am confident that we will move closer in achieving our shared aspirations for a better and stronger Philippines,” Duterte added.

JPV