LT. GEN. Gregorio Pio Catapang took command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday, replacing his Philippine Military Academy classmate Gen. Emmanuel Bautista who will reach the mandatory retirement age on Sunday.
But President Benigno Aquino III, who presided at the change of command rites at Camp Aguinaldo, said he already has a government post in mind for former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.
attends the Change-of-Command ceremonies in
Camp Aguinaldo where outgoing Armed Forces Chief
Emmanuel Bautista (second from left) was replaced
by incoming Armed Force Chief Gregorio Pio
Catapang (fourth from left). With them are Vice
President Jejomar Binay and Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin. Malacañang Photo Bureau
“To those who regret his leaving the Armed Forces, do not worry: after his long vacation of about a month, he will return to public service,” the President said, but he did not identify the post he is eyeing for Bautista.
The President also expressed confidence that the new AFP head, Lt. Gen. Gregiorio Catapang Jr., will be able to carry on the reforms in the military initiated by his predecessor.
“Now that you are at the top post of the AFP, may you continue to improve the cooperation between our uniformed rank and ordinary Filipinos started by your predecessor,” Aquino said.
“Not to pressure you (Catapang), but as the new head of the AFP, not only 125,000 soldiers depend on your leadership but also our 98 million bosses,” he added.
Aquino acknowledged that there are still some individuals who want to challenge the governance reforms that he has tried to institutionalize.
“We all know that in pushing for reforms, we create a lot of enemies. And there are those who want to return to the old ways of abuses in government,” the President said.
“But we have also proven that for so long as we remain on the straight path, for as long as the interest of our bosses steer our agenda, we will not lose the support of our people,” Aquino added.
Catapang, for his part, promised to enhance the military’s anti-insurgency campaign, dubbed as Internal Peace and Security Plan.
“We shall ensure that we will not only win the peace but we will also help win progress and prosperity for our country and people,” he said.
“Furthermore, we shall institutionalize the AFP transformation road map so that our country will be prepared for the global challenges of the 21st century,” he added.
Catapang later admitted to reporters that he was frustrated when his appointment as chief of the Philippine Army was recalled because of the promotion of a younger officer now Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Irriberi.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/07/19/new-afp-chief-bares-plans/
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