Son of slain general named new AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces has a new chief.

President Aquino named yesterday Army commander Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista the 44th chief of the 125,000-member Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Bautista is the son of Brig. Gen. Teodulfo Bautista, who was killed in a rebel ambush in Patikul, Sulu on Oct. 10, 1977.

He was a freshman cadet in the Philippine Military Academy when his father was killed.

Bautista will replace Gen. Jessie Dellosa, who is set to retire on Jan. 20.

In announcing Bautista’s appointment, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said: “We thank outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Dellosa for having served the country and our uniformed personnel with exemplary dedication and commitment.

“We look forward to the stint of the incoming AFP chief of staff in continuing the reforms set in motion by the President and implemented by his predecessors in advancing the interests of our soldiers and the enhancement of the defense capabilities of our country.”

Known to be behind the counter-insurgency program Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) or Bayanihan, Bautista will face the daunting task of addressing the internal security threats and start the transition to territorial defense this year.

Security plan Bayanihan will shift the focus of operations from internal security to territorial defense by 2014.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Bautista faces the tough challenge of putting closure to internal security operations on the third year of Bayanihan.

“On the fourth year of Bayanihan, we will do gradual transition to territorial defense,” he said. “General Bautista will lay the foundation for a smooth turnover.”

Burgos said Bautista’s appointment is timely, given that Bayanihan is entering a transition stage.

“We are highly optimistic that he would be able to lead and enable the organization to make vital progress and significant development which will help the organization and its partner agencies and stakeholders to achieve the shared goals of a just and lasting peace,” he said.

“We are also optimistic that with his leadership, our modernization and capability upgrade program will further take a momentous step forward in our intent to achieve a minimum credible defense posture.”

Bautista has held key military posts, including commander of theArmy’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz and Armed Forces deputy chief for operations.

He also served as commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade in Central Luzon and chief of the 24th Infantry Battalion.

As a young lieutenant, Bautista was a platoon leader of the 26th Infantry Battalion from 1981-1983 in Mindanao. He was also assigned in the Visayas as the commander of the 7th Scout Ranger Company from 1987-1989.

He was also assigned in the Armed Forces Retirement and Benefits Separation System, the Civil Relations Service, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, Office of the Internal Auditor and the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs.

Bautista served as deputy chief of staff for operations, J3; brigade commander, 702nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry Division; and assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and program, AJ5.

He was also senior military assistant of former defense secretary Avelino Cruz Jr.

Bautista graduated 7th out of 161 cadets of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’81. He was also recipient of the JUSMAG saber, the Commanding-General Philippine Army Award and the Distinguished Cadet Award upon his graduation.

He completed his Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Other awards he received are the Gold Cross medal for gallantry in action, the third highest military award given in combat, and several Military Merit Medals.

Bautista is married to Bernardita Pardo with whom he has one child, Paolo Gabriel.

Having started his military service in March 1981, he will retire on July 20, 2014, his 56th birthday.

Truce ends

The ceasefire between the military and communist rebels ended at midnight yesterday.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the New People’s Army (NPA) had committed at least nine violations of the truce.

However, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said the military had violated the ceasefire 15 times.

The government and National Democratic Front peace panels had agreed to observe a truce from Dec. 20, 2012 to Jan. 15, 2013.

Burgos said the NPA violations included attacks on the military after they declared a unilateral ceasefire.

Other violations include:

Attempted killing of a soldier in Davao del Norte last Dec. 5;

Holding hostage the soldier’s children;

Attacking a detachment in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last Dec. 12;

Kidnapping of four militiamen and nine civilians last Dec. 30 in Davao City;

Attacking a militia man in Southern Luzon resulting in the death of a pregnant woman;

Killing of two militiamen last Dec. 20 in Tagkawayan, Quezon;

Killing of a militiaman in Agusan del Sur last Dec. 17; and attack in Tapaz, Capiz.

In a statement, the CPP said the military’s 15 violations were committed in Cotabato, Davao Oriental, Davao City, Cagayan Valley, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Quezon, Sorsogon and other parts of Bicol.

“Over the past 27 days, the AFP carried out widespread deployment of forces and offensive operations from Luzon to Mindanao, taking advantage of the goodwill of the revolutionary forces,” the CPP said. “Over the past 27 days, the New People’s Army has strictly abided by the ceasefire declaration issued by the CPP Central Committee.”

Burgos said the military will step up intelligence and security operations now that the holiday truce has ended.

“We hope that the rebels will altogether abandon the armed violence that has caused suffering to rural communities and indigenous peoples, destroyed infrastructure, and hampered the growth of our nation,” he said.

The CPP has ordered rebel units to immediately assume an offensive posture, seize the initiative and gear up against any military offensive.