Gilbert Gapay

General Gilbert Italia Gapay is a Filipino General who currently serves as the incumbent Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment, he served as the 61st Chief of the Army and the commander of the Armor “Pambato” Division.[3][4][5]

Gilbert I. Gapay
GEN GILBERT I. GAPAY, AFP O-9473 PA (photo taken when he was the Chief of the Army ranked as Lieutenant General)
54th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Assumed office
3 August 2020
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byGen. Felimon Santos Jr.
Chief of the Philippine Army
In office
6 December 2019 – 3 August 2020
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byLt.Gen. Macairog Alberto
Succeeded byLt.Gen. Cirilito Sobejana
Personal details
Born
Gilbert Italia Gapay

(1965-02-04) February 4, 1965
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy [1]
Philippine Christian University, (MiM)
AwardsDistinguished Service Star
Gold Cross Medal
Military Merit Medal
Military service
Nickname(s)Heneral Gilbert
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/service Philippine Army
Years of service1986-present
Rank General
UnitChairman of the Joint Chiefs
Chief of the Philippine Army
AFP Southern Luzon Command
Armor “Pambato” Division
Joint Task Force Haribon [2]
3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
52nd Mechanized Infantry Company
23rd Light Armor Company
Battles/warsCPP-NPA-NDF rebellion
Moro conflict
Battle of Camp Abubakar

Military career

After finishing high school at the Ateneo de Manila University, Gapay entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1982 and is a member of the “Sinagtala” Class of 1986.[6] He graduated at the top of his class (Class Valedictorian), and was awarded 13 awards during his graduation in the military academy, making him the most decorated cadet in the history of the PMA.[7][8]

He also completed various training and activities locally and abroad, such as the Scout Ranger Orientation Course, Basic Aviators Course, Armor Officer Basic Course; Air Traffic Control Officer Course at the Air University, Comptoller Officer Basic Course; Armor Officer Advance Course and Command and General Staff Course at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College,[9] the Emergency Management Seminar with the Australian Defence Force in Australia, and the Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, and Nuclear Training Seminar at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in Canada. He also holds a Master of Management at the Philippine Christian University.

He began his career in the 26th Infantry Battalion, of the 4th Infantry Division, and also led troops during communist insurgents in 1988 at the Agusan Provinces, and the 52nd Mechanized Infantry Company of the Light Armor Brigade during the Battle of Camp Abubakar in 2000. He also conceptualised the “Bayanihan Operations" concept, where he made major contributions on combating counterinsurgency.[2] He also led the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion on combating communist insurgents in Central Luzon.

He commanded various units in the Philippine Army and other AFP units deployed in major areas in Luzon and in Mindanao, primarily in infantry, intelligence, mechanised cavalry, education and training, civil and military operations and joint operations, such as the Southern Luzon Command (SoLCom) in January 2019, and the Armor “Pambato” Division (formerly the Mechanized Infantry Division) in 2017.[10] He also served as the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army in 2017,[11] and became deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), based in Davao City; commander of Joint Task Force Haribon which secured Davao City and the rest of Davao region during the 2016 Davao City bombing,[12] and also became the spokesperson of the martial law implementation in Mindanao. In December 2019 he was appointed Army Chief.[13][14]

He was also responsible in the successful launching of the Philippine chairmanship of the ASEAN in Davao City and the successful conduct of high-level ASEAN meetings and major international events. Noteworthy was the “zero incident” of terrorism during his tenure. He also oversaw the 2019 Balikatan exercises as the country's exercise director.

On July 29, 2020, he was named as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the highest post in the AFP, and took helm on his post on August 3, 2020, replacing his classmate Felimon Santos Jr..[15][16][17] Gapay is the 54th AFP Chief of Staff, and the 8th under Duterte’s administration since 2016.[18][19][20][21]

Awards

Personal life

He has 3 children from his first marriage to the late Stella V. Gapay and 2 children from his second marriage to Virginia R. Gapay.

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References
  2. "New Army chief Gapay officially takes command of 'growing' force". Rappler.
  3. "DND Officials". www.dnd.gov.ph. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  4. Ladra, Pfc Jeonard E. "President Duterte appoints Army's 61st Commanding General". www.army.mil.ph. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  5. Share; Twitter; Twitter; Twitter. "AFP lauds Gapay appointment as next Army chief". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  6. "The Philippine Military Academy Graduation Exercises" (PDF). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  7. "All eyes on new AFP Chief of Staff Gapay". Manila Bulletin. August 3, 2020.
  8. "New Army chief named". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  9. "PMA '86 topnotcher Assumes EMC Deputy Commander".
  10. "Duterte picks Gilbert Gapay as next Army chief | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  12. Wakefield, Francis (2019-12-04). "Gapay named Army chief". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  13. Ranada, Pia (December 4, 2019). "Southern Luzon commander is new Army chief". Rappler. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  14. "Ex-Solcom chief named new Philippine Army commander". GMA News. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  15. "Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay is next AFP Chief of Staff". Manila Bulletin. July 29, 2020.
  16. Mangosing, Frances (2020-07-29). "Duterte has picked next armed forces chief: Army head Gapay". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  17. News, Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN. "Army Commanding General Gapay is new Philippine military chief". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  18. "On the designation of LGEN Gilbert Gapay as AFP Chief of Staff – Presidential Communications Operations Office".
  19. "Army commander Gapay is next AFP chief". cnn. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  20. "Army chief Gapay appointed as AFP chief-of-staff". SunStar. 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  21. "Duterte picks Army chief Gilbert Gapay as next AFP head". GMA News. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
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