Gregorio Catapang Jr.

Gregorio Pio Punzalan Catapang Jr., CCLH (born 11 July 1959) is a retired Filipino general who served as the 45th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[1] He was the Vice Chief of Staff prior to his appointment as head of the armed forces. He was also the former head of the AFP Northern Luzon Command and 7th Infantry Division. He is part of the Philippine Military Academy Dimalupig Class of 1981. He was part of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement.[2][3][4] On October 21, 2022, upon the suspension of BUCOR Director General Usec. Gerald Bantag, Catapang was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as the Officer in Charge, and eventually as the Director General[5] of the Bureau of Corrections.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Punzalan and the surname or paternal family name is Catapang.
Retired General
Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr.
CCLH, AFP, CESE
Director General of the Bureau of Corrections
Assumed office
October 21, 2022
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byUsec. Gerald Q. Bantag
45th Chief of Staff
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
July 18, 2014 – July 10, 2015
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Preceded byEmmanuel T. Bautista
Succeeded byHernando Iriberri
Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
May 16, 2014 – July 18, 2014
Northern Luzon Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
2013–2013
Personal details
Born (1959-07-11) 11 July 1959
Manila, Philippines
SpouseVilma Villanueva
Children4
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy
University of the Philippines
Claret School of Quezon City
Australian Defence College
Awards Distinguished Service Star
Gold Cross Medal
OAM
Bronze Cross Medal
Military Merit Medal.
Military service
AllegiancePhilippines Republic of the Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service1981 - 2015
RankGeneral General
UnitChief of Staff, AFP
Vice Chief of Staff, AFP
Northern Luzon Command
7 PA
703IBDE, 7ID, PA
28IB, 4ID, PA
Battles/warsCommunist insurgency in the Philippines
Islamic insurgency in the Philippines

Early life and education

Gregorio "Greg" Pio P. Catapang Jr. was born on July 11, 1959, in Manila. He is the second of four children of Gregorio Catapang Sr., a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Lourdes Punzalan, a CPA for the Department of Finance. He was named after two generals Gregorio del Pilar and Pio del Pilar. Early on in life his parents taught him the value of public service.

He attended Claret School of Quezon City highschool where he was voted as the high school class president. He entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1977 and graduated in 1981. Shortly after graduating from PMA he pursued graduate courses in the University of the Philippines and became a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi.

Military career

He moved on with his career carrying an excellent standard of performance, fine leadership, and a keen vision that resulted in accomplishments, both in garrison and field tours of duty. He held positions of major responsibility, such as: Commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army, Commander, 703 Infantry Brigade, of the 7ID, PA (now 10ID, PA) from September 6, 2010, to October 3, 2012; Battalion Commander of 28IB, 4ID, PA (now 10ID, PA) from November 20, 1999, to March 3, 2001; Battalion Commander of HHSBn, 4ID, PA from March 3 to December 17, 2001; Ac of S for Operations, G3, 8ID, PA from July 16, 2002, to February 1, 2003; ACUCS for CMO, U7, NOLCOM, AFP from February 19 to May 12, 2003; ACUCS for Operations, U3, NOLCOM, AFP from May 12, 2003, to October 24, 2005; and Chief of Unified Command Staff, NOLCOM, AFP from May 15 to October 24, 2005.

His professional military training include: Intel Officers Basic Course at the SITS, ISAFP in 1982; Infantry Officers Advance Course at Combat Arms School, TCPA in 1992; Command and General Staff Course at the Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Bonifacio in 2002; Australian and Military Familiarization Course and ADC Preparation Course at the Defence International Training Center in Australia, in 2005; Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian Defence College in 2006; Symposium on National Security and Strategy at NDU, PLA, China in 2007; and Change Management Workshop and Strategic Communications at the Australian Defense Coop Program in 2008.

Communist insurgency

Catapang was instrumental in the normalization of Northern and Central Luzon. As an Army captain he helped transform Porac from a hotbed of communist insurgency to peaceful municipality. As a General by the time he left as NOLCOM Command he was able to declare Central Luzon as peaceful and ready for further development[6]

Climate change

Catapang was recognized for significantly contributing to the relief operations in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009. At the time, he was assigned to the Office of Civil Defense.[7]

Chief of Staff

In his talk to men, Catapang urged the troops to strictly adhere to the AFP's slogan of “Kawal DISIPLINADO, bawal ABUSADO, dapat ASINTADO”. These three key words are acronyms that spell out the dos and don'ts to be followed by every AFP personnel for them “to become proficient in fire and maneuver and be able to avoid collateral damage; be respectful of human rights, adhere to international humanitarian law and rule of law, as well as the rules of engagement of the IPSP Bayanihan.” [8]

Catapang vowed to continue modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, from being the hub of "flying coffin helicopters"[9] and an "Itali Yan" navy,[10] to the home of a strong and well-equipped Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy.

Catapang promised to enhance the anti-insurgency campaign, dubbed the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP), especially against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF).[11]

In 2014, Catapang advised 40 Filipino soldiers serving as peacekeepers for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force who were surrounded by Syrian Islamist rebels in the Golan Heights to defy an order from the commander of the UN forces to lay down their arms and surrender. The Filipino soldiers instead engaged the rebels and managed to escape.[12]

He is the Chief of Staff during the failed rescue of 44 Special Action Force Commandos who died in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Military service awards

Personal life

Catapang's nationalism further shows in his children's names:

References
  1. Sinapit, Jaime (July 18, 2014). "New AFP chief Catapang vows to pursue transformation road map". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  2. "Catapang appointed as next AFP chief". Interaksyon. Philippines News Agency. July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  3. Mangosing, Frances (May 21, 2014). "Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang is new AFP Vice Chief of Staff". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  4. Fonbuena, Carmela (July 18, 2014). "A general's long wait: Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr". Rappler. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  5. Fernandez, Daniza (23 May 2023). "Gregorio Catapang permanently appointed as BuCor director general". Inquirer.net.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Dizon, Nikko (17 July 2014). "Climate change buff is new AFP chief of staff". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. "Newly-installed AFP Chief visits Army headquarters". 28 July 2014.
  9. Calleja, Niña P. (25 July 2014). "AFP chief Catapang tells of cheating death on 'flying coffin'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  10. Fonbuena, Carmela (28 July 2014). "State of PH Navy modernization: 'Golden days will return'". Rappler. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  11. "New AFP chief Catapang vows to pursue transformation road map". Archived from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2014-07-19.
  12. Filipino force defied UN commander in Golan crisis
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