Aquino has new job for retired AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines—For President Benigno Aquino III, as the commander-in-chief, a one-month vacation for retired Gen. Emmanuel Bautista is “very long.”

But after that, Bautista will return to government service as a civilian.

Bautista retired on Friday after more than three decades of service in the military, which he capped with a year-and-a-half term as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

President Aquino hinted in his speech at Saturday’s turnover ceremony at AFP headquarters that Bautista would have a job soon after he returned from a vacation. A well-placed source said Bautista is likely to be appointed undersecretary under the Office of the President.

“For those who regret that Manny Sundalo is leaving the AFP, you don’t have to worry. After a very long vacation, around a month, he will return to continue his service, this time as a civilian,” Mr. Aquino said in Filipino, drawing laughter and applause.

“Manny Sundalo” was a moniker that Bautista earned after he quickly and without fanfare extended the military’s help to the victims of a bus crash in Benguet last February.

“To you, General Bautista, thank you very much for your service and thank you very much for your continued contribution [to public service],” the President said.

It would be no surprise if President Aquino appoints Bautista to a government post that would deal with security.

As a military officer, Bautista built a reputation for being a strategist and a “thinking general.”

The Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan aimed at solving the decades-old problem of communist insurgency through a “whole of nation” approach was Bautista’s brainchild.

Bautista also drew up the country’s territorial defense strategy as the Philippines suddenly faced aggressive tactics employed by China in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
RELATED STORIES

Is Aquino eyeing gov’t post for retired AFP chief Bautista?

Is outgoing AFP chief a success or a failure?