Ricardo David

Gen. Ricardo A. David, Jr.
Ricardo David being sworn in as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on November 22, 2010
41st Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2010 – March 8, 2011
President	Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by	Lt. Gen. Nestor Z Ochoa (Acting)
Succeeded by	Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.
Personal details
Nationality	Filipino
Alma mater	Philippine Military Academy
Profession	Military
Religion	Roman Catholic
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of the Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Army
Rank	General
Commands	Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines

Gen. Ricardo A. David, Jr is the former Chief of staff of the Philippine Armed Forces.^[1] He was the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief. On June 30, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III picked David as his AFP chief.^[2] On July 2, 2010, Ricardo David assumes the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from Lt Gen. Nestor Z Ochoa.^[3]

Background

He was born in 1955 in San Fernando, Pampanga, but spent most of his childhood in Victoria, Tarlac.

He took up his primary education in Dolores Elementary School of Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga and he graduated at the top of his class in 1967. He graduated from Victoria High School in Tarlac as the Salutatorian of his class in 1971. Upon graduating high school, he took up undergraduate studies in engineering at St. Louis University in Baguio City on a full scholarship program. After a couple of years of studies, he traded one scholarship program for another when he took his Oath as a Cadet of the Philippine Military Academy on April 1, 1973; He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy on March 1, 1977.

Military career

He was the Commanding Officer of the 50th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army from December 1996 to April 1998. He also became the Commanding General of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army from March 2005 to December 2006. This was followed by his assignment to the AFP Command Center until August 2007. Afterwards, he commanded the Army Support Command until April 2008, then the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army until June 2009 and from there to the AFP Northern Luzon Command up to the time he became the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines on July 2, 2010.

AFP Chief of staff

In Gen. David's change-of-command ceremony speech, David reminded his soldiers to keep the military as a "disciplined institution."^[4]

He said: "We shall continue to be a responsible instrument of public policy, subservient to civilian authority,"^[5]

Family

He is married to Merilou Malacay of Cagayan de Oro City and they have two sons, Russell, a naval officer and a graduate of PMA class 2005, and Rommel, a licensed electronics and communications engineer.

References