CHIEF OF STAFF, PHILIPPINE ARMY

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MGEN ROBERTO S CAPULONG PA is a proud graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990. His sterling years of service have built him to become the 55th Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.

MGEN CAPULONG started his military career as a Platoon Leader and later as a Company Commander in the 27th Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Division. This stint and his designations to different command and staff positions in the said Division honed his potential as a military leader.His acumen in military operations was applied in training when he became the Group Commander of the 3ATG, TRADOC from 2007 to 2009.

As MGEN CAPULONG advanced though his military career, he was endowed with additional leadership opportunities in the 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division. He has excellently delivered his role as the Commanding Officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion in 2009, 52nd Infantry Battalion in 2010 and Division Training Unit in 2011. He was also the Division’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training, G8 in 2011 and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3 in 2012.

In 2013, he went back to Mindanao and rendered staff duties at the Eastern Mindanao Command. He was the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Joint Training, U8 and later, he became the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Joint Operations, U3.

Prior to his current designation, MGEN CAPULONG has already served the Headquarters, Philippine Army with his outstanding and fastidious execution of staff and administrative functions as the Secretary Army General Staff in 2015; and Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, G5 in 2016.

He earned his first star when he was designated as the Senior Military Assistant to DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in 2018. The following year, he returned to the 6th Infantry Division to command the 602nd Infantry “Liberator” Brigade, 6th Infantry Division. Under his leadership, the “Liberator” Brigade pushed forward the government’s peace initiatives in conflict-affected communities in its area of operations. On 28 July 2021, he pledged his commitment to orchestrate and lead the HPA’s General, Technical, and Special Staff as the 55th Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.

MGEN CAPULONG has undergone various military and civilian schoolings both local and foreign, to prepare himself for higher responsibilities. He completed his Master’s Degree in Public Administration in Notre Dame University. He also took Strategic Human Resource Management and Project Planning, Development, and Management Courses in the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Makati. As for his military schooling, he completed his Special Operations Team Training and Basic Airborne Course at the Special Forces School; Infantry Basic and Advance Courses at the Combat Arms School, TRADOC; Intelligence Officer Course at The Intelligence School, ISG, PA; the Combined Defense Intelligence Research & Analysis Course in Australia, the Command and General Staff Course at the Command and General Staff College, Royal Thai Army, Thailand, the Senior Executive Course on National Security at the National Defense College of the Philippines, and the High Defense Studies Course for Asia-Pacific Senior Officers at the Centre for National Defense Studies in Madrid, Spain.

His valuable services and accomplishments were recognized through his awards and decorations which include Distinguished Service Stars, Bronze Cross Medals, Military Merit Medals, Military Civic Action Medals, Military Commendation Medals, Distinguished Service Award, ribbons, badges,  plaques, and Letters of Commendation and Appreciation both from military and civilian sectors.

MGEN CAPULONG was born on 24 October 1968 and is happily married to Mrs Elizabeth Pagsibigan-Capulong. They are blessed with two sons, Roberto Gabriel and Robert Philip.