Gilbert Gapay

He was born at La Paz, Tarlac on February 4, 1965, and finished high school at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). He initially entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1981, but was subsequently rejected due to being under-aged.[6] He spent a year at the ADMU studying Bachelor of Business Management, before he successfully entered the PMA in 1982 and is a member of the Sinagtala Class of 1986.[6][7] He graduated at the top of his class (Class Valedictorian), and was awarded 13 awards during his graduation in the military academy, making him the most decorated cadet in the history of the PMA. A record tied to Cadet Eckwood Solomon of Florida, USA, who also graduated in the PMA in 1963 and received 13 awards. Solomon was killed in action (KIA) in Vietnam in 1966 as a young lieutenant in a mine-clearing operation during the Vietnam War.[8][9][10]

He is known to be a bright, articulate and a man of action due to his academic achievements.[6] He also completed various training and activities locally and abroad, such as the Scout Ranger Orientation Course, the Basic Aviators Course, Armor Officer Basic Course; the Air Traffic Control Officer Course at the Air University, the Comptroller Officer Basic Course; the Armor Officer Advance Course and Command and General Staff Course at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College,[11] the Emergency Management Seminar with the Australian Defence Force in Australia, and the Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, and Nuclear (CBRN) Training Seminar at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in Canada. He also holds a Master of Management at the Philippine Christian University in Manila.

He began his career in the 26th Infantry Battalion, of the 4th Infantry Division, and also led troops during communist insurgents in 1988 at the Agusan Provinces. He also led the 52nd Mechanized Infantry Company of the Light Armor Brigade during the Battle of Camp Abubakar as part of the "All Out War" Operations against the MILF in 2000. He also led the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion on combating communist insurgents in Central Luzon. [2]

He was also a member of a team of AFP Officers under then-AFP Chief General Emmanuel T. Bautista, where he helped conceptualize the Internal Peace and Security Plan "Bayanihan Operations" concept (ISSP), where he made major contributions on combating counterinsurgency through local dialogues, and creating more peaceful communities that allows the AFP and former rebels contribute to the overall local development in the country.[6] He also applied the ISSP Doctrine against communist groups through the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.[12]

He commanded various units in the Philippine Army and other AFP units deployed in major areas in Luzon and in Mindanao, primarily specialized in infantry and mechanized cavalry operations. He also led diverse units and was assigned to different areas in the AFP, such as in intelligence, education and training, civil and military operations and joint operations. He became deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), based in Davao City; commander of Joint Task Force Haribon which secured Davao City and the rest of Davao region during the 2016 Davao City bombing,[13] and also became the military spokesperson of the martial law implementation in Mindanao. He also served as the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army in 2016, where he earned his second star (Major General),[14] and commanded the Armor “Pambato” Division (formerly the Mechanized Infantry Division) in 2017. He became commander of the Southern Luzon Command (SoLCom) in January 2019, where he earned his third star (Lieutenant General).

He was also responsible in the successful launching of the Philippine chairmanship of the ASEAN in Davao City and the successful conduct of high-level ASEAN meetings and major international events. Noteworthy was the “zero incident” of terrorism during his tenure. He also oversaw the 2019 Balikatan exercises as the country's exercise director.

On December 6, 2019, he was named as the new Commanding General of the Philippine Army, where he replaced his classmate, Lieutenant General Macairog Alberto, after reaching his mandatory retirement age at 56.[15][16][17]

On July 29, 2020, he was named as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the highest post in the AFP, and took helm on his post on August 3, 2020, replacing his classmate Felimon Santos Jr..[18][19][20] Gapay is the 54th AFP Chief of Staff, and the 8th under Duterte's administration since 2016.[21][22][23][24] He earned his fourth star, and was promoted to the rank of General on October 7, 2020.[25]

• Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
• People Power I Unit Citation
• People Power II Unit Citation
• Legionnaire and Chief Commander, Philippine Legion of Honor
• 1 Outstanding Achievement Medal
• 4 Distinguished Service Star Medals
• 4 Gold Cross Medals
• Silver Cross Medal
• Meritorious Achievement Medal
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Chief of Staff of the AFP Commendation Medal
• Gawad sa Kaunlaran
• Bronze Cross Medals
• Silver Wing Medal
• Military Merit Medals with three bronze spearhead devices, three silver anahaws and four bronze anahaws
• Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal
• Military Civic Action Medal
• Parangal sa Kapanalig ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas
• Military Commendation Medals
• Long Service Medal
• Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
• Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon
• Combat Commander's Badge (Philippines)
• Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
• Philippine Army Command and General Staff Course Badge
• Special Forces Qualification Badge
• Army Aviation Badge
• AFP Parachutist Badge

He has 3 children from his first marriage to the late Stella V. Gapay and 2 children from his second marriage to Virginia R. Gapay.