BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Army Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, a Medal of Valor awardee who used to be assigned in Negros, is the next commanding general of the Philippine Army, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed last night.
Sobejana, who used to be a company commander of the 11th Infantry Battalion formerly stationed in Cadiz City at the height of insurgency campaign in Negros, will replace outgoing Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, who was also named by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new AFP chief of staff.
Gapay will replace Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., who is retiring from the military service on Aug. 3.
Sobejana, who is the commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1987, while Gapay belongs to PMA Class 1986.
He is a recipient of the Philippines’ highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor (MOV), that was also received by then Capt, Arturo Ortiz, who became the commanding general of the Philippine Army.
Ortiz got his MOV while being assigned in Negros as 606th Special Forces Company commander.*
