DWDD: MGen Santiago relinquishes post as CGSC Commandant

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Nov 21): MGen Santiago relinquishes post as CGSC Commandant



CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – Major General Rodolfo D Santiago, Commandant of the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is set to retire and relinquish his post at 3 p.m. today, 18 November 2016.

AFP Public Affairs Chief Colonel Edgard A Arevalo revealed that MGen Santiago will be replaced by BGen Arnel B Dela Vega, Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, in a Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony at the CGSC Manipula Hall here.

“MGen Santiago will be reaching the mandatory retirement age on 21 November after spending 38 years of dedicated military service as an officer of the AFP and a cadet of the Philippine Military Academy,” Col Arevalo said.

MGen Santiago is a member of the PMA “Sandigan” Class of 1982.

Prior to his assignment as Commandant of CGSC, MGen Santiago also served as the Deputy Commander of the Communications, Electronic, and Information Service of the AFP. He was also the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations and Chief of Staff of the defunct National Development Support Command.

As Commandant of CGSC, it is MGen Santiago’s task to ensure that AFP officers, senior non-commissioned officers, and senior civilian defense personnel are educated to take high command and staff responsibilities.

Since his assumption of the CGSC’s helm two years ago, MGen Santiago focused on sustaining partnerships and cooperation with other military and civilian educational institutions in and out of the country.

These partnerships include the Australian Command and Staff College, Military Academy of the German Armed Forces, Defense Service Command and Staff College of Sri Lanka, Nigerian Armed Forces and Staff College, Indonesian Air Force Command and Staff College, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Joint Staff College.

Locally, the CGSC has extensive partnerships with the Development Academy of the Philippines, The Manila Observatory, and the Ateneo De Manila University.

Meanwhile, BGen Dela Vega comes in equipped with field experience and academic accomplishments.

BGen Dela Vega was the Chairman of the GPH Ad Hoc Joint Advisory Group, a peace mechanism in the talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He also served as the Assistant Division Commander of the 6^th Infantry Division; Commander of the 603^rd Infantry Brigade; and Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of National Defense.

He earned his Master’s Degree in the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Australia and finished his Command and General Staff Course in the Philippine Army earlier in his career.

He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class of 1985.

“For the past couple of years, MGen Santiago worked hard to the continued success of the College, characterized by the advancement of the institution as a world leader in higher military education,” AFP Chief of Staff General Ricardo R Visaya said.

“MGen Santiago’s accomplishments steered the College to the right direction, and we can expect that BGen Dela Vega as an experienced military officer will take the CGSC further and closer to its envisioned future, providing the country with highly capable and effective leaders,” General Visaya added.

http://dwdd.com.ph/2016/11/21/mgen-santiago-relinquishes-post-as-cgsc-commandant/