The entire Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the installation of Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay as the 61st commander of the 97,000-strong Philippine Army (PA).

Gapay will replace Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto who will bow out of the service on Friday upon reaching the mandatory military retirement age of 56.

Gapay is the current commander of the Southern Luzon Command which is based in Lucena City, Quezon.

“In a letter addressed to the Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, President and Commander-in-Chief Rodrigo Duterte announces his approval of the recommendation of General Gapay as the next Army Chief vice Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto who has reached the mandatory retirement age while selflessly serving the nation and its people with the highest degree of honor and patriotism,” AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a media statement.

He added that Gapay is a highly esteemed and emulated officer having risen to the ranks after graduating No. 1 in the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986.

“He is a well-rounded General Officer who has excelled in the domains of Operations, Training, and Resource Management,” Arevalo added.

Gapay has also served with distinction various sensitive positions in both garrison and field assignments at the PA and AFP General Headquarters.

“He possesses both the expertise and experience in command, leadership, and management which are essential to leading the biggest branch of service of the AFP—the Philippine Army,” Arevalo said.

The incoming PA chief’s attributes of integrity and competence is beyond reproach, he added. (PNA)