Greg Catapang says goodbye as AFP chief

The 45th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., is retiring on his 56th birthday on July 11, but the change of command ceremonies will be held tomorrow, July 10, at Camp Aguinaldo with President Benigno Aquino III as guest of honor and presiding officer. The general was appointed chief on May 16 last year.

His 38 years of continuous service began in 1977 when he entered the Philippine Military Academy at the age of 17. Within that period, for his achievements, he received two Distinguished Service Star awards; three Gold Cross Medals, five Outstanding Achievement medals, one Bronze Cross medal, 16 Military Merit medals and Military Commendation medals; three Combat “Kagitingan” badges, and various letters of commendation and badges.

Remarkable though these awards are, they seem dwarfed by his attainment of four stars on his stripes like “shooting stars” ( my words). He related to this columnist his meteoric acquisition of the stars. In August 2000 — with medals and commendations he had received at the risk of losing life and limb as he led battalions to fight the communist insurgency in Central and Northern Luzon and Muslim rebels in Mindanao – he asked, though with some hesitancy, President Noynoy Aquino – who had become a close friend — to give him a star. Yes, the President told him, but wait until a brigade general retires. Catapang waited for two-and-a-half years to be promoted to brigade commander, and given his first star. Then, to his pleasant surprise, in six months, he was given another promotion and a second star. In another six months, he was promoted to AFP vice chief of staff and given a third star, and in another six months, he was promoted to chief of staff and given his fourth star.

His story could be made into a book as it is full of surprises, risks and triumphs. Where there was trouble, he would be called to fight off the enemy, he said.

After graduation from the PMA in 1988, he was sent on combat assignment in Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. He was the platoon leader of 30 freshly enlisted men, in an area surrounded by Moro National Liberation Front men. “I was told by my battalion commander, if you will be attacked, don’t expect reinforcement. You will be on your own.” Luckily, no engagement took place as the MNLF leaders realized that if they attacked Catapang’s men the casualties would include their relatives.”

The participation of the young officer in the anti-Marcos movement began as early as 1982, when he was a member of the 13 Ad hoc committee of RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement). He actually initiated a more descriptive definition of the movement as, Restore, Ethics, Fairmindedness, Orderliness, Righteousness and Morale in the AFP.

Media persons who covered the EDSA Revolution took note of Lt. Col. Greg Catapang’s active participation in the military struggle against the dictatorship. He was one of 300 soldiers who had been instructed on Feb. 22, 1986, by Philippine Constabulary Chief Gen. Fidel V. Ramos and Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile to lead an attack towards Malacañang, which target was not pursued, and instead, the soldiers were directed to defend the PTV4 building on EDSA. Greg’s picture appears in a magazine article which quotes him as saying, “If my heart could cry, it would shed tears.”

Upon his return to Manila from Sultan Kudarat, he enrolled in a three-year masters course in political science at the University of the Philippines, with the understanding that he would teach at the PMA after graduation. At the UP he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity, over the initial objection of some members who thought he was a “spy” for the military. He remains a beloved Upsilonian (Batch ’86), as evident in the brods’ warm reception of his presence at socials. Incidentally, two Upsilonians were the late Ferdinand Marcos (Batch ’37) and Ninoy Aquino (Batch ’50).

After EDSA, Greg went back to the PMA to teach. He was arrested on suspicion that he was part of the group that planned the 1987 coup d’etat. His lawyers, however, said no witnesses or documents could be found to implicate him.

As AFP chief, he is in close contact with the President — almost three to four times a week. The two were in Zamboanga when the Mamasapano incident in Maguindanao happened. He said that there had been a plan to run after the international terrorist Zulifi bin Hir alias Marwan. The President had told Catapang that there must be coordination between the AFP and the Philippine National Police in the efforts to capture the terrorist, and this was

relayed to the PNP force in Mamasapano. But as things went, PNP Special Action Force head P/Dir. Getulio Napeñas Jr. acted on his own. Catapang told the Senate committee hearing that he had received too late the call to help the beleaguered SAF troopers.

During his one year as AFP Chief of Staff, Catapang says the Internal Peace and Security Plan (“Bayanihan”) of President Aquino became understood by every soldier. This focused on military operations of destroying the enemies of the state without committing human rights violations and collateral damage, engaging the community leaders in dialogues, and asking people what projects they needed. The projects would be relayed to government offices.

He is proud about his decision not to let the Philippine peacekeeping force in Golan Heights surrender their firearms to Syrian rebels and make a daring escape, which they did, following a seven-hour gun clash. “It was a risk on my part, not to surrender firearms,” said Catapang. “As chief of staff you must weigh matters very seriously. If you fail, you will be blamed. The buck stops with you.”

Greg was born in Manila to a lawyer, who was a director at the Philippine Patents Office, and an accountant at the Department of Finance. They named their son after two Philippine heroes — Gregorio del Pilar and Pio del Pilar. They were earning modest incomes, but they sent their children to private schools by mortgaging their house in Project 6, Quezon City. Greg attended the Claret Catholic School for boys, and his three sisters, St. Mary’s school.

Greg did not want his parents to spend on his college education. Luckily he was accepted to enroll at the Philippine Military Academy. He and his wife Vilma did not spend on their own four children’s education; they are now in universities in the United States on scholarships.

What are his plans upon retirement? He will plant cooling trees around the dormant Arayat volcano in Pampanga. “If the place gets heated up, the volcano could erupt,” he said. He also wants to raise organic vegetables.

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