Dan Isleta is new Army chief of staff

Philippine Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito D. Bautista (left) installs new Army Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Danilo Chad D. Isleta (middle), during the Change of Chief of Office ceremony held here today, Thursday, January 04, 2018. BGen Isleta replaced Major General Gilbert I. Gapay (right) who is now the Commander of the Mechanized Infantry Division. (Photo: Philippine Army)

MANILA — Brig. Gen. Danilo “Chad” D. Isleta was appointed as Philippine Army (PA) chief of staff during change of command ceremonies in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Thursday morning.

He replaced Major Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay, who was appointed head of the Tarlac-based Mechanized Infantry Division.

Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson said the ceremony was presided by PA commander Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista.

Isleta is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1985, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Prior to his appointment, he was the deputy commander and acting commanding general of the Bicol-based 9th Infantry Division, and head of the Office of Gender and Development of the said unit.

Isleta also served as the commanding officer of the 10th Field Artillery Battalion, Army Artillery Regiment in 2006.

Meanwhile, Gapay is a member of PMA Class of 1986, who served as deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command and head of Joint Task Force Harribon that secured Davao City and the rest of Davao Region, and spokesperson for the Martial Law implementation in Mindanao.