Rolando Joselito Bautista


Rolando Joselito Delizo Bautista is a retired Filipino lieutenant general and the incumbent Secretary of Social Welfare and Development. He held various positions in the military, such as the former Commanding General of the Philippine Army, commander of the Joint Task Force Marawi during the Battle of Marawi, and the Presidential Security Group.

Military background

A graduate in the Philippine Military Academy, he is a member of the PMA “Sandiwa” class of 1985 and took various preparatory and specialization courses in intelligence and counter-terrorist operations. A well-known Mindanao Veteran, described as "well-rounded", "silent worker", an "achiever", and a "workaholic", He led the 73rd Infantry Battalion in 2005-2007, and the Unified Command Staff Chief of the AFP Northern Luzon Command, from February 2012 to October 2013,Task Force General Santos and Joint Task Group Basilan. During the Duterte Administration, he quickly rose through the ranks, as he led the Presidential Security Group, then transferred to the 1st Infantry Division in Mindanao for his counter-terrorism expertise, until he led the Battle of Marawi as overall ground commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, before he led the Philippine Army as Commanding General of the Philippine Army.

Awards in Military Service

His stint as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development came with a controversy involving him and journalist/broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, after the journalist, threatened him and gave tirades on-air on his radio show “Tutok Tulfo” on Radyo Pilipinas. Sec. Bautista was not available while having a meeting with an ambassador at the moment Tulfo's team was reaching him for a live, on-air interview regarding about the DSWD's plans on a recent signing of anti-poverty measure Magna Carta of the Poor.