Retiring army chief is next DSWD Secretary

Bautista will retire on Oct. 15 when he turns 56 years old. (File Photo By Ramon FVelasquez/Wikimedia commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday night named retiring Army chief, Lt. Gen. Roland Bautista, as the next Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Na-announce ko naman (I have announced), the next DSWD Secretary was just about a few days —Rolly Bautista,” Duterte said in a speech before members of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAAI).

In a command conference last month, Duterte bared that he wanted Bautista to replace resigned National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Jason Aquino.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea told reporters that Bautista did not decline the NFA post but was offered a new post as DSWD chief.

Duterte has yet to announce someone to replace Aquino, who resigned amid issues hounding the country’s rice supply.

Bautista will retire on Oct. 15 when he turns 56 years old.

Prior to being army chief, Bautista was also Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander.

Earlier, Duterte bared that he prefers military men in his Cabinet since they get the job done immediately.

DSWD Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo currently heads the agency.