MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has picked Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Malacañang announced Wednesday.

“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,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“We wish General Sobejana all the best in his new tour of duty as we pray for his success,” he added.

Sobejana succeeds General Gilbert Gapay, who is set to bow out of service as he reaches the mandatory age retirement of 56 next week.

Gapay took the post in August 2020 after also leading the Philippine Army.

Sobejana is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987.

He has been awarded the Medal of Valor, the country’s highest military honor for his bravery during a 1995 gun battle against Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan.

Sobejana then led various units including the 1st Scout Ranger Company, recognized as Best Company in 1994; 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, awarded as Best Battalion in 2009; 601st Infantry Brigade, named Best Brigade in 2016; and 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, awarded as Best Division in 2018.

He also served as the Commandant of the Scout Ranger Training School; Commander of the Civil-Military Operations Group (now Regiment), Philippine Army; Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu; Commander of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division, Philippine Army.

He also served as Commander of AFP Western Mindanao Command.

In May 2019, Duterte bestowed him the Philippine Legion of Honor (Degree of Legionnaire), for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service rendered to the Philippine Government, particularly to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, according to the Philippine Army’s website.

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang stressed on Tuesday (January 26) that President Rodrigo Duterte already decided with finality that he would get coronavirus vaccine shot in private.

This, despite the suggestion of vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr to make it public as the President will boost confidence in the government’s vaccination program. 

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said such is the President’s personal preference.

“He had said so. Sabi nga niya, dahil sa puwet siya magpapasaksak so hindi pwedeng public (He said he wants to get shot in the buttock so it cannot be public),” Roque said.

Duterte said he is willing to be inoculated and volunteered to be the one to get the first vaccine shot to set an example.

Roque said the President wants to have it done the way Queen Elizabeth II did by announcing it only after she and Prince Philip received the vaccine.

Other leaders, meanwhile, preferred to be vaccinated in public like US President Joe Biden, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. MNP (with reports from Rosalie Coz)

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed the conduct of face-to-face classes for medical and allied health programs in higher education institutions.

This will be in areas with relaxed quarantine restrictions.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, this is to ensure that the country will not run out of doctors and other medical front liners amid the pandemic.

“Ito po ay para hindi tayo maubusan ng mga doktor, kung hindi po magpapatuloy iyong mga face-to-face ng mga doktor and allied medical professionals,” Roque said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has allowed face-to-face medical internship at the University of the Philippines – Manila. MNP (with reports from Rosalie Coz)