Outgoing AFP chief thanks officers, enlisted personnel for continuous support

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 11): Outgoing AFP chief thanks officers, enlisted personnel for continuous support

With just nine days left before his retirement this July 20, outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista on Friday took time to thank all the officers and enlisted personnel under his command for a job well done.

"We thank them for their support but more importantly, we thank them for the services that they have rendered, the heroism that they have demonstrated, that they have shown and I am very grateful for that and as their chief-of-staff I'd like to recognize their efforts, their sacrifices," he added.

And when asked about his assessment on his tour of duty as AFP chief, Bautista admitted to facing many challenges but stressed that he did his job as well as he could.

"Looking back I just did my job and (during my term), I faced many challenges and did my best to face it," Bautista said.

He was referring to incidents in the West Philippines Sea, Zamboanga City siege and numerous natural calamities and disasters that battered the country.

The AFP chief declined to comment on who will be the one to replace him or the names of the candidates.

"My lips are sealed, thank you," Bautista pointed.

The AFP chief added that biggest challenge that will be facing his successor is still China which is still bent on claiming portions of the West Philippines Sea.

"Our strategy there is to pursue (our claims) through arbitration as we renounced war as instrument of policy," he concluded.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=661723