Rolando Joselito Bautista

Then-Lieutenant General Rolando Bautista speaking at the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Defence Academy

A graduate in the Philippine Military Academy, he is a member of the PMA “Sandiwa” class of 1985 and took various preparatory and specialization courses in intelligence and counter-terrorist operations. He completed various courses in the country and abroad, such as the AFP Command and General Staff Course at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College. He is also a Scout Ranger-trained General, and is a qualified member of the Special Forces.

He is a well-known Mindanao Veteran, described as "well-rounded", "silent worker", an "achiever", and a "workaholic". He led the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division in 2005–2007, and the Unified Command Staff Chief of the AFP Northern Luzon Command, from February 2012 to October 2013, the Task Force General Santos and the Joint Task Group Basilan. During the Duterte Administration, he quickly rose through the ranks, as he led the Presidential Security Group, then transferred to the 1st Infantry Division in Mindanao for his counter-terrorism expertise, until he led the Battle of Marawi as overall ground commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, before he led the Philippine Army as Commanding General of the Philippine Army from October 5, 2017 to October 15, 2018.[1][2]

• Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
• Martial Law Unit Citation
• People Power I Unit Citation
• People Power II Unit Citation
• 2 Grand Commander medals, Philippine Legion of Honor
• Outstanding Achievement Medals
• Distinguished Service Stars
• Gawad sa Kaunlaran medals
• Bronze Cross Medal
• Military Merit Medals with one spearhead device, 3 silver and 1 bronze anahaws
• Military Civic Action Medal
• Military Commendation Medals
• Long Service Medal
• Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
• Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) Ribbon
• Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon
• United Nations Service Medal
• Combat Commander's Badge
• Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
• Special Forces Qualification Badge
• AFP Parachutist Badge
• Presidential Security Group Badge
• AFP Command and General Staff Course Badge
• United States Army Infantry School Badge

His stint as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development came with a controversy involving him and journalist/broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, after the journalist, threatened him and gave tirades on-air on his radio show “Tutok Tulfo” on Radyo Pilipinas. Sec. Bautista was not available while having a meeting with an ambassador at the moment Tulfo's team was reaching him for a live, on-air interview regarding about the DSWD's plans on a recent signing of anti-poverty measure Magna Carta of the Poor.[3][4]