P-Noy names Bautista as new Army chief

Manila — The commander of troops in Central Visayas and Negros Oriental and Siquijor would be the next commanding general of the Philippine Army, Malacañang announced yesterday afternoon.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, President Aquino’s deputy spokesperson, said Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, will assume command of the Army on Nov. 9.

Bautista replaces Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, who will be retiring on Nov. 13 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

“His record has been exemplary, both in the field and in staff positions. Bautista has been decorated seven times in combat. Most notably, in his staff work, as J3 of the AFP, Maj. Gen. Bautista was primarily responsible for the formulation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan, ‘Bayanihan’,” Valte said in a statement released by Malacañang.

“(Bautista) 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,” she added.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, Maj. Gen. Bautista is also a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting Course at the Joint Forces Staff College, Virginia, USA; the Grade II Staff and Tactics Course in New Zealand; as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

“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 said. /INQUIRER