Duterte picks Army chief Gilbert Gapay as next AFP head

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Duterte signed Gapay’s appointment letter on Tuesday, according to the document addressed to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Gapay, the commanding general of the Army, will replace AFP chief General Felimon Santos Jr., who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on August 3.

Malacañang earlier said Santos’ successor must be competent and imbued with integrity as Duterte considered the appointment of a military chief “very important.”

AFP not the enemy

In a statement, Gapay thanked Duterte for giving him the opportunity to lead the AFP “in this trying time in our nation’s history.”

“As your incoming chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will build on the gains of our predecessors whose labors made the AFP an able agent for the betterment of our people and country,” he said.

“While the lessons of the past always remind us that our purpose is winning over challenges to best serve our people, we will uphold our mandate to protect and secure our country against external and internal threats. In doing so, we will remain accountable to the Filipino people.”

Gapay said he will continue to push for the modernization of the military to uphold our sovereignty and the integrity of the national territory.

He assured the public of the AFP’s commitment in helping communities overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gapay added the military is the protector of the people. 

“Your AFP is a far cry from the grim picture being painted by those against the Anti-Terrorism Law.  Your AFP is your protector—not your enemy,” he said.

Gapay has been serving in the military for over three decades already. He used to be the commander of the Southern Luzon Command and head of the Mechanized Infantry Division.

The incoming AFP chief is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986.

Gapay’s batchmates include Santos, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde as well as incumbent PNP chief Archie Francisco Gamboa.

Confirming the appointment, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President expects Gapay to pursue the reforms in the military.

"We expect Gen. Gapay to continue the reform initiatives of modernizing and professionalizing the armed forces while protecting our people and securing the state," Roque said.

"I wish Gen. Gapay all the best in this new undertaking and pray for his good health and success," he added. With reports from Anna Felicia Bajo, Julia Mari Ornedo—LDF, GMA News