Army Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, who had served as 3rd Infantry Division commander in Negros and Panay, is among the top contenders for the position of Armed Forces chief of staff, to be vacated by Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

Dellosa, who assumed the post in December 2011, is retiring on Jan. 20.

Aside from Bautista, who is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, Air Force chief, Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz (Class 1980) and Navy chief Vice-Admiral Jose Luis Alano (Class 1979) are also vying for the position.

Bautista, who is the author of the AFP Internal Peace and Security campaign plan, had served as 3ID commander in 2010, before he was designated as Philippine Army chief. The IPSP Bayanihan is the six-year military’s blueprint in winning the peace.

Prior to his recent designation as Navy chief, Alano served as AFP Central Command chief, which vacated position is temporarily occupied by Brig. Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay (Class 1981), former 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.

Bautista is the most senior among the three major service commanders because he got his third star ahead of Alano and de la Cruz.

On the other hand, Lt. Col. Rodrigo Sosmena is ending his tour of duty tomorrow as 47th Infantry Battalion commander.

The 47th IB is in-charge of the internal security operations of the Philippine Army in southern Negros.

Sosmena will be replaced by Lt. Col. Enriqueto Deocadez, who will be installed by Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3ID commander, in a ceremony to be held at the 47th IB headquarters in Brgy. Tiling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.*GPB

back to top