22 Facts About Gilbert Gapay

Gilbert Italia Gapay was born on February 4,1965 and is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the 54th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Gilbert Gapay was born at La Paz, Tarlac on February 4,1965, and finished high school at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Gilbert Gapay initially entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1981, but was rejected due to being under-aged.

Gilbert Gapay 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.

Gilbert Gapay graduated at the top of his class, and was awarded 13 awards during his graduation in the military academy, making him the most decorated cadet in the history of the PMA.

Gilbert Gapay is known to be a bright, articulate and a man of action due to his academic achievements.

Gilbert Gapay holds a Master of Management at the Philippine Christian University in Manila.

Gilbert Gapay began his career in the 26th Infantry Battalion, of the 4th Infantry Division, and led troops during communist insurgents in 1988 at the Agusan Provinces.

Gilbert Gapay 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.

Gilbert Gapay led the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion on combating communist insurgents in Central Luzon.

Gilbert Gapay was 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, 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.

Gilbert Gapay applied the ISSP Doctrine against communist groups due to the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Gilbert Gapay 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.

Gilbert Gapay 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.

Gilbert Gapay became deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, 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, and became the military spokesperson of the martial law implementation in Mindanao.

Gilbert Gapay became commander of the Southern Luzon Command in January 2019, where he earned his third star.

Gilbert Gapay was 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.

Gilbert Gapay oversaw the 2019 Balikatan exercises as the country's exercise director.

Gilbert Gapay earned his fourth star, and was promoted to the rank of General on October 7,2020.

Gilbert Gapay retired from military service on February 4,2021, after reaching the mandatory military retirement age of 56.

Gilbert Gapay was replaced by the Chief of the Philippine Army and Medal of Valor awardee, Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana.

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