PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday confirmed that newly-retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. will join his Cabinet as head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
Mr. Duterte made the announcement Tuesday evening, Dec. 11, as he led the change of command ceremony for Mr. Galvez and now AFP Chief-of-Staff Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr.
Mr. Galvez’s mandatory retirement officially takes effect Dec. 12.
“By the way, before I forget, General Galvez will join the Cabinet next week as the Secretary of the Peace Process Office. I think he is the ninth military man to join my government,” he said in his remarks.
Mr. Duterte noted that Mr. Galvez, who previously led the Western Mindanao Command, “supervised the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, which led to neutralization of terrorists.”
On Mr. Madrigal, who was head of the Eastern Mindanao Command since 2017 before his promotion, the President said: “I trust that under Gen. Madrigal’s leadership, the AFP will reach new milestones.”
“You are now tasked to sustaining peace in the country,” he added.
According to the office of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo, Mr. Madrigal “led several operations against the communist New People’s Army (NPA).”
The ceremony coincided with the celebration of the 83rd anniversary of the AFP at the Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 11.
In the same event, the President conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kamagi on four soldiers for their contributions and exemplary service to the military.
Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo, and former President Fidel V. Ramos, among others, were present during the event. — Arjay L. Balinbin

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR