LT. GEN. GILBERT I. GAPAY
By Jun Enriquez
ILIGAN City - LIEUTENANT GENERAL (LT. GEN.) GILBERT ITALIA GAPAY, is the next Chief of Staff of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) and to be the incoming Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on July 28, 2020, through the endorsement of the Department of Defense SECRETARY DELFIN N. LORENZANA in accordance with the recommendation of the outgoing Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, LT. GEN. FELIMON T. SANTOS, JR., AFP.
Lt. Gen. Gapay is the current 61st Army chief appointed by President Duterte on December 6, 2019, will officially assume office as the AFP Chief on August 3, 2020 to replace Lt. Gen. Santos, per memorandum issued by President Duterte in Malacanang, Manila.
The incoming AFP Chief Gapay, at age of 55 years, was born on 4 February 1965, entered in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1982, who graduated Valedictorian in 1986 under the “Sinagtala” class and serve the AFP until present. He will serve as the AFP Chief until 4 February 2021. He was an achiever and received awards on Military Merit Medal, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation and more. He was exposed in battles and wars against communist rebellion and Moro conflict in Mindanao.
The then Col. Gapay was married to wife Gie Gapay, was the former Commander of the 2nd Mechanized infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, Philippine Army, 2014-2016, based in Maria Cristina, Iligan City. He was able to organized the Magbalantay Press Corps (MPC) headed by Jun Enriquez as the pioneer president with members of the media from Iligan City and Lanao del Norte, to effectively countering fake news and disinformation against the enemies of the state.
As Brigade Commander of the “Magbalantay” Brigade, then Col. Gapay also actively implemented the Internal Peace and Security Program (IPSP) – Bayanihan of the AFP, the Whole of Nation Approach with the Civil Society groups as partners, building peace with the local government units (LGUs) and the civilian communities to help protect the peace process between the Moro Islamic liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine Government. He also effectively implemented the implementation of the Ceasefire committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH) and activated the mobilization of the Ad hoc joint action group (AHJAG) with elements from the military and MILF combatants to police against criminalities in the MILF controlled areas in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City. He was able to dismantle the MILF camp in the mountain of Rogongon, Iligan City through the decision of the CCCH because it was not included in the identified MILF camps in the Ceasefire agreement. Thousands of illegal weapons and ammunitions were being voluntarily surrendered and turned-over to avoid the escalation of armed conflict between the feuding clans or “rido” and also prevent criminalities in the Lanao area.
Likewise, Gapay maintained an open line communication with the former MILF rebel commander “Bravo,” Abdullah Macapaar, who is now a Member of the Parliament (MP) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), to preserve peace not only in the Lanao areas but also in the whole of Mindanao as well. There was no any armed encounter against the rebels in Lanao during his stay as Brigade Commander of the “Magbalantay” Brigade by simply saying which then Col. Gapay said, “By winning the peace is just like winning the war!”
(References: Documentary reports by Jun Enriquez; Gilbert Gapay Profile and President Duterte Memorandum dated 28 July 2020 from internet)
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