LIEUTENANT General Carlito Galvez, Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, said he is thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for choosing him as the next commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
President Duterte on Thursday, April 5, announced that Galvez has been chosen as the next AFP chief-of-staff replacing General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who is retiring from the military service.
Guerrero was supposed to retire on December 17, 2017 but the President extended his term until April 24, 2018.
“I would like to thank President Duterte for the trust and confidence given me,” Galvez said as he vowed to “serve the best way I can” with honor, integrity and loyalty.
Civic and government officials are one in saying that Galvez deserves the position being a seasoned officer.
They foresee that Galvez’ experience as combat and peace maker is an advantage to the AFP.
Claretian priest, Fr. Angel Calvo, Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (Zabida) president, said Galvez is qualified to lead the AFP saying they knew him “since Basilan days.”
Galvez has served as the Army’s Scout Ranger Battalion and 104th Infantry Brigade commanders in Basilan province.
He has also served as the head of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities of the government panel talking peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Calvo, who is also a peace advocate, said that Galvez is a recipient of Peaceweaver Award last year.
Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) said Galvez is known as one true leader and a peace weaver that is instrumental in the reformation in some of the hotbeds in Armm.
Hataman said Galvez was instrumental to the surrender of Top 3 notorious Abu Sayyaf Sub-Leader Nurhassan Jamiri and the elimination of the Daesh influenced group, the Maute including its allies lead by Isnilon Hapilon in Marawi City.
He said Galvez' leadership with a heart, helps Armm to reach its potential in transforming the region into a place, ripe enough for further economic endeavors.
Galvez is the ninth commander of Westmincom. (SunStar Philippines)