Ex-RAM member is next Armed Forces chief

A former member of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), a group of military officers instrumental in the 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and that launched several coup attempts against President Corazon Aquino, has been named the new head of the military.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Wednesday the appointment of Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang as the new AFP chief of staff.

Catapang, who is the incumbent AFP vice chief of staff is set to replace AFP Chief of Staff Emmanuel Bautista who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 20.

Prior to assuming the AFP vice chief of staff post last May, Catapang also became the commander of the Tarlac-based Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), this, after he served as the commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

A source from the AFP told GMA News Online that Catapang, who was then a junior military officer, participated in the 1986 coup attempt against Marcos which eventually led to the People Power revolt.

The 1986 revolution led to the inauguration of President Corazon Aquino.

The source, however, said that Catapang was also among the RAM members who participated in one of the two coup attempts against Aquino in 1987.

"He was with us in PMA (Philippine Military Academy) back in 1987 when he and his classmate raised the inverted Philippine flag in support of Honasan," the source said. The coup was led by Col. Gregorio Honasan II, who is now a senator.

The source said that after his participation in the failed coup in 1987, Catapang left RAM.

Despite Catapang joining coups against the government, the source said the general is "a visionary" and will make a good chief of staff.

"He's a reformist so I believe he knows what the AFP needs to improve on," the source said.

GMA News has tried to reach Catapang for comment as of posting time but he did not reply to text messages and phone calls.

Prior to the announcement of Catapang's appointment as AFP chief of staff, two senior military officers were also eyed for the post – Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri of PMA Class of 1983 and Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado of PMA Class 1982

Catapang belongs to the PMA “Dimalupig” Class of 1981, the same class that the AFP Chief Bautista is from.

The change of command ceremony will be held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday morning. The event will be attended by the AFP's commander-in-chief, President Benigno Aquino III. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News