Retired general Lisandro Abadia, who served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the early 1990s, has passed away, the military confirmed Monday, Jan. 10. He was 83.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of General Lisandro Abadia, former AFP Chief of Staff,” said Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP spokesperson.
According to reports, Abadia died on Sunday night in his family’s house in Taguig City.
Abadia, a product of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1962, had been in the military for 36 years. His career began in 1958 and ended in 1994 when he retired from the service.
He served as the AFP Chief from 1991 under the presidency of the late Corazon Aquino until 1994 under the presidency of Fidel Ramos.
According to the AFP, Abadia “paved the way for the professionalization of the military and the return of meritocracy in its promotion system.”
He was also widely credited for the AFP’s “Lambat Bitag,” a counter-insurgency campaign in the 90s which “significantly decreased the strength of the communist terrorist group.”
“Appropriate military honors will be provided in recognition of the former Chief of Staff's legacy and sacrifices as a soldier and head of the military. Again, we send our deep condolences and sympathies to his family,” Zagala said.