Major General Rolando Joselito D. Bautista assumed as the 59th Commanding General of the Philippine Army, replacing Lieutenant General Glorioso V. Miranda who is set to retire on October 08, 2017.
The Change of Command Ceremony was presided by the President and Commander-in-Chief Rodrigo Roa Duterte with the Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Eduardo M. Año.
HPA based officers, soldiers, and civilian employees are also present while a full military honor is rendered to welcome the new Army Chief.
Bautista is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Sandiwa Class of “1985”. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Bautista is a Scout Ranger, an Infantry Officer, a trainer and a paratrooper among others, with advance training in the United States, and a graduate of Counter Urban Terrorist Operations Course.
Prior to his appointment as the Commander of the 1st Infantry Division, he was the Commander of the Joint Task Force Gensan in 2013 and 104th Brigade, 1ID in 2014. In 2016, he led the Presidential Security Group.
Bautista, who has been serving in the army for more than 32 years now, is a recipient of numerous awards including a Bronze Cross Medal, Distinguished Service Stars, Military Merit Medals, and Military Commendation Medals.#
