The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed on Monday the appointment of retired military general and peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. as its incoming head following the resignation of DND Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Jose Faustino Jr.
The appointment of Galvez was announced by Malacañang wherein it also confirmed the resignation of Faustino, who had led the agency since last year as its senior undersecretary and officer-in-charge.
No reasons were given over the resignation of Faustino, which spawned reports of supposed grumblings in the military and defense establishments, which were exacerbated by the reappointment of Gen. Andres Centino Jr. as chief- of-staff of the military, replacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro.
Centino was replaced last year by Bacarro as the military’s chief of staff, forcing the latter to go on “floating status.” Malacañang however reappointed Centino to his old post, removing Bacarro.
Reports said Faustino had already said as early as last month that he would resign from his post if Bacarro is replaced.
The DND believed that Galvez could effectively lead the agency due to his background as a retired general and a peace adviser.
“With Secretary Galvez’s years of experience as a military commander and as a civilian public servant, we are confident that he will be able to effectively lead the Department as we fulfill our mandates to the nation,” the DND said in a statement issued by its spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong Jr.
“On behalf of the entire One Defense Team, we express our deepest gratitude to Senior Undersecretary Jose C. Faustino Jr. for his service and leadership. We wish him the best in his endeavors in the next chapter of his life,” the statement added.
At the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame, its spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo, said the leadership is also investigating the source of a spurious memorandum in the PNP that called for a heightened alert due to a supposed destabilization plot in the military associated with the resignation of Faustino and “all” officials of the DND.
While Fajardo admitted that the PNP had indeed been placed on heightened alert, the order was connected to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday and not with Faustino’s resignation.
At then Malacañang Palace Presidential Communication Office OIC Undersecretary Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, confirming Galvez’s new appointment, said, “It is with deep regret that the President has accepted the resignation of DND OIC Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr.”
“The President has offered the position of DND Secretary to the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and he has accepted,” she added. DND welcomed the designation of Galvez as its new head.
With Samuel P. Medenilla