President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Tuesday appointed Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Palace deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said that Bautista will replace Gen. Jessie Dellosa, who will pass on the torch to Bautista on January 17, four days before his mandatory retirement age of 56.

“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines effective January 20, 2013,” Valte said, adding: “We thank outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Dellosa for having served the country and our uniformed personnel with exemplary dedication and commitment,” she added.

Bautista bested other strong candidates such as Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz. Air Force commander, and Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, Armed Forces vice chief of staff.

“We look forward to the stint of the incoming AFP chief of staff in continuing the reforms set in motion by the President and implemented by his predecessors in advancing the interests of our soldiers and the enhancement of the defense capabilities of our country,” Valte said.

Bautista, who is the commanding general of the Philippine Army, had served as commander of the Third Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Dimalupig” Class of 1981, Bautista completed his Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Before becoming the infantry commander, he was the deputy chief of staff for operations, or J3, assisting the chief of staff in formulating plans and policies on all matters on operations and organization.

As J3, he led the formulation of the new Internal Peace and Security Plan, “Bayanihan,” which involved innovative approaches and paradigm shifts.

Bautista was also a commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, Seventh Infantry Division, Philippine Army, which was involved in internal security operations in central Luzon and responsible for the clearing of enemy guerrilla fronts in its area of responsibility.