LIEUTENANT General Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, is the next commanding general of the Philippine Army.
Sobejana will succeed Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, who has been appointed as the incoming chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) upon the retirement of General Felimon Santos Jr. on August 3, 2020.
In an interview Thursday, July 30, Sobejana said he was informed of his appointment by Santos and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
"Of course I am very happy to be selected to lead the Philippine Army. I consider this as a new challenge and I am very thankful to our Almighty ... God is so good and to God be the glory," he said.
Asked about his plans as the Army chief, he said he aims “to build the capability of the organization in terms of equipment and the human resource”.
“Of course, you have to come up with the doctrine, techniques, tactics and procedures that will ensure victory of our troops as they are deployed to the frontline,” he added.
Sobejana is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987.
He is the second Army chief to have been awarded with the Medal of Valor, which he received after an encounter with at least 150 Abu Sayyaf terrorist in Sitio Caro in Barangay Lower Kapayawan in Isabela Basilan in January 1995.
He was then the commanding officer of the 1st Scout Ranger Company, First Scout Ranger Regiment of the Philippine Army.
Sobejana declined to name his successor. (SunStar Philippines)