PHILIPPINE Army commanding general and ‘Medal of Valor’ awardee, Lt. General Cirilito Elola Sobejana, is the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Malacañang announced on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
Sobejana is to replace Gen. Gilbert Italia Gapay, who would reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 4, 2021. Gapay had served as the AFP chief since August 3, 2020, on the retirement of Gen. Felimon Santos Jr.
“The Palace confirms that LGEN Cirilito Sobejana will be the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in a statement sent to the media.
“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,” Roque added.
In 1995, and despite being wounded several times, Sobejana and his men from the elite Scout Rangers’ of the Philippine Army, held their ground against an estimated 150 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in a pitch battle in Isabela, Basilan, earning him the MOV, the highest military award for gallantry in action.
Prior to his appointment as Army chief last year, Sobejana had spent most of his military career in Mindanao, as Joint Task Force Sulu commander, 6TH Infantry Division commander and area commander, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom)..
A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy ‘Hinirang Class’ of 1987, Sobejana would be AFP chief until his retirement on July 31, 2021.