DND chief Galvez tells key defense officials to stay in posts amid reported resignations
NEWLY installed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. called on DND officials with coterminus appointments to stay on to their posts during a transition briefing accorded to him on Tuesday by agency officials.
At least seven up to nine undersecretaries and assistant secretaries have earlier tendered their courtesy resignations as part of the regular procedure after the appointment of Galvez as the new defense chief following the resignation of Defense Officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr.
DND spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong Jr. said that during the briefing, Galvez asked all members of the DND’S executive committee and bureau heads to stay on.
During the briefing, a formal report was presented to Galvez, the focus of which was the department’s direction and the 10-point agenda initiated by Faustino.
It was followed by a meeting with senior officials and heads of bureaus and a discussion with members of the executive committee.
“We will sustain the gains of the past Secretaries and will also further enhance the capability of our national defense,” Andolong quoted Galvez as saying during the meeting, where he also emphasized the importance of employees’ morale in the DND and professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Before coming to Camp Aguinaldo where the DND office is located, Galvez met in private with Faustino, who briefed him on the different accomplishments of the agency along with his recommendations to ensure continuity of DND programs.
On Wednesday, the DND and the AFP made a joint New Year’s Call on Galvez and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino.
Galvez, who accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Misamis Occidental, was represented by DND Undersecretary for Capability Assessment and Development Angelito de Leon, who, for his part, defended the reappointment of Centino.
“There is nothing irregular if you are referring to the law that prescribes [the appointment and term of chief-of-staff], and besides, rightfully, it is the prerogative of the Commander-in-chief to designate not only the chief-of-staff, but of course the key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND civilian bureaus,” de Leon said during news briefing that followed.
He said the changes in the military top brass have not affected the morale of troops.
“Based on the turnout in this morning’s traditional joint DND and AFP New Year’s Call, all the key commanders were there, including the key staff officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND civilian bureaus. So, I think there is no issue with morale. The morale remains high, we are focused on our mandate,” he said.
On the other hand, Centino, during the call, urged members of the AFP to remain united in “embodying only the highest standards of excellence across all AFP mission areas.”
“The new leadership in the AFP and the DND shall represent a renewed commitment to unity. In ensuring the cohesiveness and professionalism of our institutions, while serving as role models to the subordinates following us, we fortify the relationship of our soldiers to their units and enhance the formidable foundation upon which the legacy of the AFP is built upon,” he said.