Kaagad na inalok ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte ang kareretiro lamang na si AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay ng bagong posisyon sa gobyerno.
Ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte ang alok sa kanyang talumpati sa Retirement Ceremony para kay Gen. Gapay kung saan pormal na ring nanumpa bilang bagong AFP chief si Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana sa Kampo Aguinaldo sa Quezon City.
Sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte, pagkatapos ngayong gabi, mamili lamang daw si Gapay kung gusto nito sa Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) o sa Department of National Defense (DND) na kanyang tahanan na rin.
Ayon kay Pangulong Duterte, sa panahon ng pagiging AFP chief ni Gapay, naging ispirado ang mga sundalo at naging puspusan ang paglaban sa insurhensya at pagtatanggol sa ating soberenya.
“Sir, after tonight you might want, you might opt to take the MWSS vacated by Gen. Salamat or you might also choose to be with your home ground the DND, it’s your choice,” ani Pangulong Duterte. “During your tenure you have commendably stirred the men and women of AFP towards our goal of eliminating insurgency and securing our sovereignty. When our nation faced a daunting public health crisis last eyar, you inspired your troops to risk their lives to contain the pandemic and providing essential humanitarian assistance to our people.”
Samantala, inihayag naman ni Pangulong Duterte na kumpiyansa siyang sa ilalim ng liderato ni Gen. Sobejana, mas marami pang makakamit at mapagtatagumpayan ang AFP sa paglaban sa mga rebelde, terorista at pagdepensa sa national security.
“It is my hope that this new beginning will ensure a more fruitful ccollaboration as we strive to be a source of great moral strength to our people. To our troops, be assured of the government’s full support for the promotion of your improved welfare as well as the upgrading of your capabilities in securing the safety of our people,” bahagi pa ng pahayag ni Pangulong Duterte.
