| Honorific Prefix: | Lieutenant General |
| Office: | 58th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Term Start: | August 8, 2022 |
| Term End: | January 6, 2023 |
| President: | Bongbong Marcos |
| Predecessor: | Andres Centino |
| Successor: | Andres Centino |
| Bartolome Bacarro | |
| Nickname: | Bob |
| Birth Date: | 18 September 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines |
| Allegiance: | Philippines |
| Branch: | Philippine Army |
| Branch Label: | Branch |
| Serviceyears: | 1988–2023 |
| Awards: | Medal of Valor |
| Alma Mater: | Philippine Military Academy (BS) |
| Spouse: | Soledad Bonsato |
| Children: | 3 |
Bartolome Vicente "Bob" Orpilla Bacarro (born September 18, 1966) is a retired Philippine Army lieutenant general who served as the 58th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2022 to 2023.[1] He previously commanded the Southern Luzon Command. In 1991, Bacarro was awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor for his actions against the New People's Army in Maconacon, Isabela.[2] [3]
Bartolome Vicente Orpilla Bacarro graduated the Philippine Military Academy as part of Maringal Class of 1988 earning his commission as a Philippine Army second lieutenant. He completed his Command and General Staff Course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.[4] [5]
Throughout his military career in the Philippine Army, Bacarro has served as the spokesperson of the Philippine Army, Internal Auditor of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chief of Staff of the 4th Infantry Division. He has also assumed command of the 502nd Infantry Brigade, of the 2nd Infantry Division, and of the Cadet Corps of the Philippine Military Academy.
In August 2022, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Bacarro as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[6] He retired on January 7, 2023.
See also: Death of Darwin Dormitorio. On September 18, 2019, Philippine Military Academy plebe Darwin Dormitorio was declared dead on arrival at the Fort del Pilar Hospital in Baguio due to injuries sustained from hazing at the academy. Separate investigations by the Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and by the Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra and National Bureau of Investigation ensued. Bacarro, together with the Philippine Military Academy Superintendent, Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista, tendered his resignation "in the military tradition of command responsibility". Charges were filed against the two generals, but were cleared by Baguio Prosecutors for lack of probable cause.[7] [8] [9]
On July 25, 2021, Bacarro replaced retiring Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. as commander of the Southern Luzon Command.
Representative Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro, the hometown of Cadet Darwin Dormitorio, appealed to recall the appointment of Bacarro and urged the Department of Justice to review the general's exoneration, specifically against the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995 that holds responsible those who could have prevented hazing activities but have not done so.[10] [11]
In January 1991, then 2nd Lieutenant Bacarro was the commander of the 6th Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary Company of the 5th Infantry Division's 21st Infantry Battalion. In Maconacon, Isabela, his unit figured in a 10-hour firefight against approximately 150 New People's Army rebels. Despite being wounded in his left thigh, he scaled a 9-foot fence surrounding the compound where his unit was pinned down by enemy fire. He then commandeered a truck and rammed the wall, providing his unit an exit point. He then had his wounded men evacuated, along with a wounded civilian. His 50-man force suffered three killed in action casualties and the communist rebels, sixteen.[12]
He was subsequently awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor by President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino on July 1, 1991, for his actions.
"By direction of the President, pursuant to paragraph 1-6a, Section II, Chapter 1, AFP Regulations G131-053, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines, dated 1 July 1991, the MEDAL FOR VALOR is hereby awarded to:
Bacarro is married to Soledad Bonsato from Baguio with whom he has three children.