GENERAL Cirilito Sobejana assumed post on Thursday, February 4, 2021, as the 55th chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Sobejana succeeded General Gilbert Gapay, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.
He is the first AFP chief-of-staff who was awarded the Medal of Valor, the highest military honor of courage.
Sobejana received the medal following a fierce gunfight with the group of Abu Sayyaf Group founding leader Abdurajak Janjalani in Basilan in 1995. He was then the commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment.
With his right arm almost severed, Sobejana and his men continued to maneuver without retreating from the close-quarter battle, which resulted in the killing of 42 Abu Sayyaf members. Seven Army soldiers died, while nine others were wounded.
Sobejana underwent nine surgical procedures in the United States for two years as he refused to amputate his bullet-riddled arm.
His right arm has since lost its motor capabilities, making him the first AFP chief-of-staff to salute using his left hand.
In his speech, Sobejana reminded military personnel to always keep their feet on the ground and to never give up from the challenges of life.
"When people think of courage or valor more offer than not, they are lived to believe that it is the absence of fear. The truth is valor is finding courage in the face of all our fears. It is a product of last indomitable spirit within us that is to never give up when all the odds are stuck against you and everything hinges on you. You will feel the empowering fire which propels you to swing the tide in your favor. It is during these situations that we must rise above the challenges because defeat is not and never an option," he said.
"I would like to impress upon everybody both soldiers and civilians alike that our ranks and positions are just incidental to public service. Our feet with our boots on should remain on the ground," he added.
Sobejana expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for entrusting him the 180,000 strong AFP.
Lorenzana said the sterling record as a military officer has prepared Sobejana to assume his role as AFP chief-of-staff.
"Having personally seen and experienced the adverse effects of armed conflicts, Lieutenant General Sobejana is a strong advocate for peace and development. We are confident that he will continue leading the way for the modernization of the Armed Forces," Lorenzana said.
Duterte said he is confident that under Sobejana's leadership, the AFP will achieve even more milestones in the campaign to address insurgency and terror.
He urged military personnel to remain vigilant and proactive in performing their duties.
"Be assured of the government's full support for the promotion of your improved welfare as well as the upgrading of your capabilities in securing the safety of our people," Duterte said in his speech during the turnover ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
"As keepers of peace and order, you are instrumental in building a safe environment where our people can live without fear from lawless elements," he added. (SunStar Philippines)