Military career
He moved on with his career carrying an excellent standard of performance,fine leadership,and a keen vision that resulted in accomplishments,both in garrison and field tours of duty. He held positions of major responsibility,such as:Commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division,Philippine Army,Commander,703 Infantry Brigade,of the 7ID,PA (now 10ID,PA) from September 6,2010,to October 3,2012;Battalion Commander of 28IB,4ID,PA (now 10ID,PA) from November 20,1999,to March 3,2001;Battalion Commander of HHSBn,4ID,PA from March 3 to December 17,2001;Ac of S for Operations,G3,8ID,PA from July 16,2002,to February 1,2003;ACUCS for CMO,U7,NOLCOM,AFP from February 19 to May 12,2003;ACUCS for Operations,U3,NOLCOM,AFP from May 12,2003,to October 24,2005;and Chief of Unified Command Staff,NOLCOM,AFP from May 15 to October 24,2005.
His professional military training include:Intel Officers Basic Course at the SITS,ISAFP in 1982;Infantry Officers Advance Course at Combat Arms School,TCPA in 1992;Command and General Staff Course at the Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Bonifacio in 2002;Australian and Military Familiarization Course and ADC Preparation Course at the Defence International Training Center in Australia,in 2005;Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian Defence College in 2006;Symposium on National Security and Strategy at NDU,PLA,China in 2007;and Change Management Workshop and Strategic Communications at the Australian Defense Coop Program in 2008.
Communist insurgency
Catapang was instrumental in the normalization of Northern and Central Luzon. As an Army captain he helped transform Porac from a hotbed of communist insurgency to peaceful municipality. As a General by the time he left as NOLCOM Command he was able to declare Central Luzon as peaceful and ready for further development [6]
Climate change
Catapang was recognized for significantly contributing to the relief operations in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009. At the time,he was assigned to the Office of Civil Defense. [7]
Chief of Staff
In his talk to men,Catapang urged the troops to strictly adhere to the AFP's slogan of “Kawal DISIPLINADO,bawal ABUSADO,dapat ASINTADO”. These three key words are acronyms that spell out the dos and don'ts to be followed by every AFP personnel for them “to become proficient in fire and maneuver and be able to avoid collateral damage;be respectful of human rights,adhere to international humanitarian law and rule of law,as well as the rules of engagement of the IPSP Bayanihan.” [8]
Catapang vowed to continue modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,from being the hub of "flying coffin helicopters" [9] and an "Itali Yan" navy, [10] to the home of a strong and well-equipped Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy.
Catapang promised to enhance the anti-insurgency campaign,dubbed the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP),especially against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF). [11]
In 2014,Catapang advised 40 Filipino soldiers serving as peacekeepers for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force who were surrounded by Syrian Islamist rebels in the Golan Heights to defy an order from the commander of the UN forces to lay down their arms and surrender. The Filipino soldiers instead engaged the rebels and managed to escape. [12]
He is the Chief of Staff during the failed rescue of 44 Special Action Force Commandos who died in Mamasapano,Maguindanao.
