Cirilito Sobejana
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Cirilito Elola Sobejana (born July 31, 1965) is a retired
Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...
general who served as the 55th
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer (except for the President of the Philippines, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief equivalent to a five-star general) and the head ...
under President Rodrigo Duterte. He is also known for having been awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Medal of Valor This list of medals for bravery is an index to articles about notable medals awarded for bravery or valor. These medals, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, are given to personnel who have serv ...
in 1995 for his valiant actions in
Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan ( cbk, Provincia de Basilan; yka, Wilayah Basilanin; tsg, Wilaya' sin Basilan; fil, Lalawigan ng Basilan), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ...
against the extremist guerrilla group
Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; ar, جماعة أبو سياف; ', ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, is a Jihadist militant and pirate group that follows the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It is base ...
. Sobejana was also appointed the
Commanding General of the Philippine Army The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Army, the ground warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant Gener ...
from August 2020 to February 2021. Prior to that, he served as commander of the Western Mindanao Command from June 2019 to August 2020, of the 6th Infantry Division in 2018, and of the Joint Task Force Sulu in 2017.


Education

Sobejana graduated from the
Philippine Military Academy The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
as part of the Hinirang Class of 1987. He finished his Command and General Staff Course at the
Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College The Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College, known officially as the AFPCGSC or GSC, ( Filipino: ''Dalubhasaan ng Pangasiwaan at Kawanihang Heneral ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas'') is one of the training units of the A ...
and underwent the Executive Course on National Security Administration at the
National Defense College of the Philippines The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) ( fil, Dalubhasaan ng Tanggulang Pambansa ng Pilipinas) is an educational, training, and research agency of the Philippine government located inside Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon ...
. The general underwent the Scout Ranger Regiment Course and was a qualified member of the Special Forces. He has also trained as a
paratrooper A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...
and a scuba diver. Internationally, Sobejana trained in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (CBRN defense) in Sweden and in
operations research Operations research ( en-GB, operational research) (U.S. Air Force Specialty Code: Operations Analysis), often shortened to the initialism OR, is a discipline that deals with the development and application of analytical methods to improve decis ...
systems analysis at the US Army Logistics Management College in the United States. He also completed the Advance Security Cooperation course at
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) is a U.S. Department of Defense institute that officially opened Sept. 4, 1995, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Center addresses regional and global security issues, inviting militar ...
in Honolulu, Hawaii.


Military career

Sobejana undertook various positions throughout his military career including Commandant of the Scout Ranger School and Commander of the Civil-Military Operations Group, Deputy Operations and Training Officer of the
1st Scout Ranger Regiment The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment,https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2011/11/26/751758/scout-rangers-legend-continues is a Philippine Army unit specializing in anti-guerrilla jungle warfare, raids, ambushes, ...
, Head of the Plans, Policies and Materiel Development Division of the Army Support Command, Chief of the Firepower Division at the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics J4, Executive Officer of the Army Resource Management Office, and Deputy Chief to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations G7. From 2003 to 2004, he was deployed to the
United Nations Mission in East Timor The United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) was established by Security Council Resolution 1246 on 11 June 1999 for a period up to 31 August 1999. By Security Council Resolution 1257 of 3 August UNAMET was extended to 30 September 1999. ...
as a military observer. Rising through the ranks, Sobejana eventually served as commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, the Joint Task Force Sulu, the 6th Infantry Division, and then the Western Mindanao Command. Under his leadership, his units earned recognition: the 1st Scout Ranger Company was named Best Company in 1994, the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion the Best Battalion in 2009, the 601st Infantry Brigade the Best Brigade in 2016, and 6th Infantry Division the Best Division in 2018. He attributes the successes of his troops to his personal mantra "Ang taong masaya ymaraming magagawa (A happy man does many things)."


Western Mindanao Command

As commander of the Western Mindanao Command, Sobejana notably led the search and rescue operations of British businessman Allan Hyrons and his Filipino wife, Wilma in October 2019. The couple was abducted by the
Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; ar, جماعة أبو سياف; ', ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, is a Jihadist militant and pirate group that follows the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It is base ...
in
Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga del Sur ( Cebuano: ''Habagatang Zamboanga;'' Subanen: ''S'helatan Sembwangan/Sembwangan dapit Shelatan''; Chavacano: ''Zamboanga del Sur''; tl, Timog Zamboanga; mdh, Pagabatan Sambuanga), officially the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, ...
and was rescued in November of that year in Sulu. British special forces provided support during the operation. Sobejana was accorded the rank of Pinuno (Officer) of the
Philippine Legion of Honor The Philippine Legion of Honor ( fil, Lehiyong Pandangal ng Pilipinas; es, Legion de Honor Filipino) was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honor was patterne ...
for his leadership and meritorious conduct and service. The
Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament The Bangsamoro Transition Authority is the interim regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of the Philippines and has executive and legislative powers over the region. History With the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law ...
also commended the general for his overwhelming support in the peace process and overall peace developments in the Bangsamoro Region


Commanding General of the Philippine Army

On August 4, 2020, Sobejana was appointed
Commanding General of the Philippine Army The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Army, the ground warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant Gener ...
by President Rodrigo Duterte. He took over from then Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, as the later was promoted to
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer (except for the President of the Philippines, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief equivalent to a five-star general) and the head ...
.


Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

On January 27, 2021, Sobejana again succeeded General Gilbert Gapay as
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer (except for the President of the Philippines, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief equivalent to a five-star general) and the head ...
. His concurrent promotion to General was confirmed by the
Commission on Appointments The Commission on Appointments ( fil, Komisyon sa Paghirang, abbreviated as CA) is a constitutional body which confirms or rejects certain political appointments made by the President of the Philippines. The current commission was created by th ...
on March 24, 2021. As chief of staff, Sobejana vowed to modernize the
Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The ...
, secure the country's interests, and protect the country's sovereignty of its claimed features in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phi ...
(portions of which are designated as "
West Philippine Sea West Philippine Sea ( fil, Karagatang Kanlurang Pilipinas; abbreviated as WPS) is the official designation by the government of the Philippines to the parts of the South China Sea that are included in the country's exclusive economic zone. The ...
") amidst the heightened tensions in the area. The deployment of three Type 22 missile boats near the
Second Thomas Shoal Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal ( fil, Kulumpol ng Ayungin, lit=Cluster of he silver perch; vi, Bãi Cỏ Mây; and Mandarin ), is a shoal or atoll in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, west of Palawan, Philippines. ...
in April 2021 by Chinese forces was met with the deployment of Philippine military assets by the general, particularly ships and aircraft, along with the
Philippine Coast Guard The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ( fil, Tanod Baybayin ng Pilipinas) is recognized as the third armed uniformed service of the country attached to the Philippines' Department of Transportation, tasked primarily with enforcing laws within P ...
and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to the South China Sea. He protested against the proposed Coast Guard Law from China, enabling them to open fire on any ship that enter the disputed waters. In March 2021, the attention of General Sobejana was called by the
Commission on Appointments The Commission on Appointments ( fil, Komisyon sa Paghirang, abbreviated as CA) is a constitutional body which confirms or rejects certain political appointments made by the President of the Philippines. The current commission was created by th ...
regarding the questionable appointment of then Lieutenant General
Jose Faustino Jr Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. *Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya * Jose the Galilea ...
as Acting Commanding General of the Philippine Army. Senator
Panfilo Lacson Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson Sr. (; born June 1, 1948) is a Filipino former politician and police general who served as a Senator for three terms: from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022. He was the Director General of the Philippine National ...
cited Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8186 to challenge the appointment, even in an acting capacity. Upholding the precedence of the law, General Sobejana relieved Lieutenant General Faustino from his post. Sobejana retired from military service in July 2021. He was succeeded in his post as chief of staff by Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr.


Awards and decorations


Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor

In 1995, then Captain Sobejana led his platoon in engaging a group of 20
Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; ar, جماعة أبو سياف; ', ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, is a Jihadist militant and pirate group that follows the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It is base ...
guerrillas in Isabela, Basilan. Abu Sayyaf reinforcements arrived until Sobejana's unit was facing approximately 150 combatants. After two hours spent trading fire, Sobejana sustained two bullet wounds to his right forearm and a third bullet wrecked his rifle. His arm was almost severed and he had to bite his right thumb to keep the arm from falling off. Sobejana then began to fire using his left hand while still directing his men. The firefight ended after four hours with Sobejana being wounded thrice more. Sobejana refused to have his arm amputated and underwent several surgical procedures in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. He underwent initial surgery at
Tripler Army Medical Center Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) is a major United States Department of Defense medical facility administered by the United States Army in the state of Hawaii. It is the tertiary care hospital in the Pacific Rim, serving local active and retire ...
in
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
and would ultimately spend 10 months there undergoing further operations and
reconstructive surgery Reconstructive surgery is surgery performed to restore normal appearance and function to body parts malformed by a disease or medical condition. Description Reconstructive surgery is a term with training, clinical, and reimbursement implicat ...
. He was transferred to
Brooke Army Medical Center Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the United States Army's premier medical institution. Located on Fort Sam Houston, BAMC, a 425-bed Academic Medical Center, is the Department of Defense's largest facility and only Level 1 Trauma Center. BAMC ...
in
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
for rehabilitation. He eventually recovered the partial use of his right hand and arm and remained in active service. For his valiant actions, he was conferred the
Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor The Medal of Valor (Filipino: ''Medalya ng Kagitingan'') is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest military honor awarded for a conspicuous deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty that distinguishes th ...
by President
Fidel Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (, ; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and Eddie Ramos, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military ...
in 1996.


Medal of Valor citation

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty during an encounter with about 150 Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang members at Sitio Caro, Barangay Lower Kapayawan, Isabela Basilan on 13 January 1995, while serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Scout Ranger Company, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Philippine Army. When Task Group Panther received reports on the enemy concentration, it immediately dispatched one platoon under CAPTAIN SOBEJANA to check the area. While observing the reported location of enemy presence, he sighted about 20 armed enemies loitering near a cluster of houses. After assessing the situation, he directed his men to attack the enemy position which resulted to an ensuing fierce fire fight. Alerted by the incident, several Abu Sayyaf groups from nearby areas arrived to reinforce their comrades, cutting the troops from the supporting section. As the firefight raged, firepower and numerical superiority of the enemy became apparent as members of the First Scout Ranger Company incurred casualties. After two hours of continuous fire fight, CAPTAIN SOBEJANA was hit in the lower arm as he went for the radio of a fallen soldier. Bravely holding his ground, he sustained a second bullet wound that almost severed his right arm. Still, he controlled all fire directions to best defend their position and repulse the encircling enemy. Though in pain and with a shattered rifle after it was hit by an enemy fire, he never lost composure and continued leading his men. He even maneuvered around, exposing himself to enemy fire to direct the encounter. After almost four hours of intense fighting, reinforcements from the Task Group Panther and the 4th Scout Ranger Company arrived to secure the area and evacuate the wounded. Report placed the enemy casualties at 30 killed and unconfirmed number of wounded. By this gallantry, CAPTAIN SOBEJANA distinguished himself in combat, in keeping with the finest traditions of the Filipino soldiery."
Aside from the
Medal of Valor This list of medals for bravery is an index to articles about notable medals awarded for bravery or valor. These medals, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, are given to personnel who have serv ...
, Sobejana is the recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Star, eleven Distinguished Service Stars, the Gold Cross, three
Bronze Cross Medal The Bronze Cross MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 29. is a single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for "heroism involving risk of life" under co ...
s, the
Wounded Personnel Medal The Wounded Personnel Medal is awarded to members of and civilians employed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are injured or killed in combat with the enemy. Design Medal The medal is in the form of a cross in gold.. Superimposed in ...
, thirty three Military Merit Medals, and seven Commendation Medals. He was recognized as an Outstanding Philippine Soldier in the Combat Category in 1995. He received the Award of Excellence for Public Service and the Plaque of Commendation from Roel Degamo, the Governor of
Negros Oriental Negros Oriental ( ceb, Sidlakang Negros; tl, Silangang Negros), officially the Province of Negros Oriental, is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete. It occupies the southeaste ...
, the general's home province, in 2012 and in 2021 respectively. Left Side: Right Side: Badges and other awards: * Armed Forces of the Philippines Parachutist Badge * Special Forces Qualification Badge * Combat Commander's Badge * Scout Ranger Qualification Badge * Philippine Air Force Gold Wings Badge *
Army Aviation Badge The Aircrew Badge, commonly known as Wings, is a qualification badge of the United States military that is awarded by all five branches of armed services to personnel who serve as aircrew members on board military aircraft. The badge is inten ...
* The Outstanding Philippine Soldier from the Rotary Club Makati (1995) * Philippine Military Academy Cavalier Award (1997) * Award for Continuing Excellence and Service by the Metrobank Foundation (2019) * Award of Excellence for Public Service of the Governor of
Negros Oriental Negros Oriental ( ceb, Sidlakang Negros; tl, Silangang Negros), officially the Province of Negros Oriental, is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete. It occupies the southeaste ...
(2012) * Plaque of Commendation from the Governor of
Negros Oriental Negros Oriental ( ceb, Sidlakang Negros; tl, Silangang Negros), officially the Province of Negros Oriental, is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete. It occupies the southeaste ...
(2021)


Personal life

Sobejana is married to Edna Iturriaga Sobejana. Together, they have five children, Mae Suzanne, Mae Suzzette, Sheena Joy, Sean Jayson, and Siegfried Joshua. Post his retirement from military service, the general returned to his hometown in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sobejana, Cirilito 1965 births Living people Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs (Philippines) Philippine Army generals Duterte administration personnel Philippine Military Academy alumni People from Negros Oriental Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor Recipients of the Philippine Medal of Valor Recipients of the Philippine Legion of Honor Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Star Recipients of the Distinguished Service Star Recipients of the Gold Cross (Philippines) Recipients of the Military Merit Medal (Philippines) Recipients of the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Recipients of the Military Civic Action Medal Recipients of the Military Commendation Medal Recipients of the Silver Wing Medal