Marcos picks Carlito Galvez as Defense secretary

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has named Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense.

According to the Presidential Communications Office on Monday, Galvez accepted the post offered by the President.

This, as Malacañang announced the resignation of DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr.

The Palace said Marcos has accepted Faustino's resignation but did not provide the reason for it.

Faustino's resignation came after the change of leadership in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with General Andres Centino replacing Lieutenant General Bartolome Bacarro as its chief.

Galvez served as AFP chief under the Duterte administration. He also previously served as commanding general of the Western Mindanao Command where he played a significant role in ending the five-month siege of Marawi City in 2017. He was even conferred with the Order of Lapu-Lapu (Kamagi Medal) for his "outstanding performance as the unified commander during the liberation of Marawi City."

A peace advocate, Galvez also served as the chairman of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities for the government side in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

A battle-seasoned general, Galvez is experienced in the fields of combat and intelligence operations, leadership development, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, strategic management, systems dynamics modeling, and peace-building, negotiation and mediation.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Galvez also served as the country's vaccine czar and “chief implementer” of the government’s national policy against the disease.

The DND welcomed Galvez's appointment, saying his experience would help him effectively lead the agency.

"With Sec. 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," DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.

The DND also thanked Faustino for his leadership and service to the public.

"We wish him the best in his endeavors in the next chapter of his life," Andolong said.

Former Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, a former top cop, said Galvez was a "good choice."

"Gen. Galvez can provide the leadership that the defense establishment needs, especially during the transition period of the implementation of the law on fixed term of generals holding key positions in the AFP," Lacson said.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense also welcomed Galvez's appointment, having worked with the former military official during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Naging malapit na katrabaho ng OCD si Sec Charlie sa buong panahon ng pandemya habang pinamumunuan niya ang National Task Force on COVID-19. Nalulugod kami na muli na naman namin siyang makakatrabaho, ngayon bilang pinuno ng One Defense Team!" National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Mark Timbal said.

Timbal also thanked Faustino for leading the agency since July of last year.

"Taos-pusong nagpapasalamat ang lahat ng mga pinuno at kawani ng Office of Civil Defense sa magiting na pamumuno ng butihing Sr Usec Jose C Faustino Jr. bilang tagapamahala ng Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa at Tagapangulo ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council simula nuong Hulyo 2022," Timbal said.

"Hangad namin ang kanyang tagumpay sa kanyang bagong misyon sa buhay at ang patuloy na paggabay ng Maykapal sa kanyang mga gawain at mithiin," he added. —KG/KBK/DVM, GMA Integrated News