Former AFP Chief Carlito Galvez Named New Defense Secretary

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. continues his reshuffling, or "right-sizing, as he puts it, with the appointment of Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. to the Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, January 9, the palace confirms.

In June, Marcos had called upon Faustino to become the temporary senior undersecretary of the agency. While former DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. hasn't provided his exact reason for his resignation, he follows the latest trend of senior military officials reportedly vacating senior positions.

A memorandum had allegedly been released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) a while back, which says that the agency had called on units to be on full alert after key resignations. The PNP and DND were quick to deny the report. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) itself, nevertheless, had a Change of Command ceremony at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo recently, installing new chief Gen. Andres Centino.

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Malacañang has yet to put out an official statement about Faustino leaving his post. In his place will now be the Duterte administration's old AFP Chief Carlito Galvez. The latter accepted the appointment on the same day.

“It is with deep regret that the President has accepted the resignation of DND OIC Sr. Usec. Jose Faustino Jr.,” PCO officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil said in a statement. "The President has offered the position of DND Secretary to Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and he has accepted."

Galvez was instrumental in finally ending the Marawi City siege back in 2017. After his retirement, then-President Duterte had named the former AFP chief as the head implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. Later on, Galvez would be named vaccine czar.