[1] He served as the Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice, and Peace at the Office of the President, Malacañang.

[2] His appointment as Undersecretary at the Office of the President was from 1 September 2014 to 22 June 2020 shortly after retirement from the military service as Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Following the footsteps of his father, the late BGen Teodulfo Bautista, he entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1976.

[citation needed] When Bautista was enrolled in PMA and residing in his family home in Marikina,[3] Brig.

Gen. Bautista, then the Commanding General of the 1st Infantry "Tabak" Division (1ID), was set to meet with rebel leader Usman Sali and his men to discuss the peaceful coexistence of the opposing parties in the region.

[4] At the last minute, Sali proposed to the general that they meet at a public market in Patikul instead of the 18th Infantry Battalion's Headquarters.

Gen. Bautista and his men aboard two military trucks went to the meeting place unarmed as a sign of goodwill but found no one in sight.

[1] On 9 November 2011, Bautista assumed command of the 85,000-strong Philippine Army during a critical period in the organization's reform.

During his command, the Philippine Army stabilized its transformation, raised levels of troop discipline and professionalism, developed capabilities and enhanced training, and focused on stakeholder engagements and peace building efforts.

On 17 January 2013, Bautista was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as the 44th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In February 2014, Bautista garnering praise from Filipino netizens for sending a helicopter to the aid of victims of a bus crash in Mountain Province upon the request of RockEd Philippines founder Gang Badoy, who unknowingly named the AFP Chief of Staff "Manny Sundalo" in her cellphone's directory.