President Rodrigo Duterte has already chosen the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Malacaῆang confirmed on Wednesday that Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana of the Philippine Army will be replacing outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay who is set to retire on February 4.
“We are confident that General Sobejana will continue to modernize our military and undertake reform initiatives to make the Armed Forces truly professional in its mandate as the protector of the people and the State,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated.
“We wish General Sobejana all the best in his new tour of duty as we pray for his success,” Roque continued.
Sobejana graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1987 and became the Commanding General of the Philippine Army on July 30, 2020.
He served as commandant of the Scout Ranger Training School, commander of the Army’s Civil-Military Operations Group, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, and commander of the Western Mindanao Command. – Report from Mela Lesmoras