Maj. Gen. Bautista assumes post as Army chief

Major General Emmanuel Bautista: We have been fighting too long. Too many have died, including my father. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Major General Emmanuel Bautista formally assumed the post of Commanding General of the Philippine Army Wednesday.

The turnover was held during the Change of Command Ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Bautista, 53, and a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of ’81, replaces Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz who retires this Wednesday.

Bautista will lead the 80,000-strong Army.

Present during the turnover of command were President and Commander-in-Chief Benigno Aquino III and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Bautista is the son of the late Brigadier General Teodulfo Bautista who was killed by rebels in Patikul, Sulu on Oct. 10, 1977.

Prior to being appointed as the new Army chief, Bautista served as the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz.

He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 in 2010 where he helmed the crafting of the Internal Peace and Security Plan-Bayanihan currently being implemented by the military.

Bautista was also commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade of the 7th Infantry Divisionin Central Luzon  between 2008 and 2009.