Galvez: No Military Unrest, Issues Being Resolved

There is no truth to reports of unrest in the military, according to newly appointed Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

He admitted though that “there are some valid issues, but we are resolving them right now.”

In a briefing, he said one of the issues was the delay in the promotion of some senior officers in accordance with Republic Act 11709, which aims to professionalize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including by prescribing fixed terms for key AFP officers and increasing the mandatory retirement age of generals and flag officers.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), I told the President [if it is] OK that we can submit the promotion immediately, the delayed promotions, and he said even during Saturday and Sunday you can give it to me,” Galvez told reporters on Thursday, Jan. 12.

“So, we will fast-track the remaining promotions and also the deployments of the different commanders, the assignment of different commanders and that is why I am asking the board of generals to do overtime during weekends,” he added.

AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino admitted that there are some provisions of RA 11709 that need to be clarified.

“This is a new law and perhaps, we can give it a try. There may be little provisions or points that need to be clarified, that are not that clear,” he said. Centino said the law was done to im-prove the selection process for promotions in the AFP.

“That is why I think the law is good. Perhaps, these are just part of the initial processes that happen when laws are passed,” the AFP chief said.

The reappointment of Centino early this month to the post he vacated in August 2022 prompted the resignation of then defense chief Jose Faustino Jr., who resented being kept in the dark on the new appointment.

The AFP announced the promotion of three of its top military officials to three-star general.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General were Maj. Gen. Arthur Cordura, AFP vice chief of staff, and Maj. Gen Efren Baluyot, Southern Luzon Command chief. Real Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., the flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy, received his third star, with the rank of Vice Admiral.

Centino led the donning ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday.

“We grant or bestow promotion to deserving personnel of our organization who have exhibited excellent performance of their duties and have demonstrated their competence and propensity to do more,” he said.

“It is incumbent upon them to continue serving our institution, our country and our people, in the best possible ways they can. The three distinguished officers we have the pleasure of honoring today are exactly that – capable, competent, professional military leaders,” Centino said.

In a statement as concurrent Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Galvez said President Marcos wants the military to give greater support to the peace process.

“The President’s guidance is that the military should refocus now its mission on supporting the peace process,” Galvez said. OPAPRU personnel earlier welcomed Galvez’s appointment as Department of National Defense (DND) secretary.

“We, the men and women of the office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, congratulate Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. for his recent appointment as Secretary of Na-tional Defense,” the OPAPRU said in a statement.

“We are happy that he will be taking on a job that is also close to his heart, having served as a military officer for more than 30 years,” it said.

“We believe that his tenure as peace adviser has prepared him for the post of defense secretary, as the peace building work he has carried out will guide him, as he leads the DND in ensuring the nation’s peace and security.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management has released P14 billion for the pension requirements of military retirees.

Budget chief Amenah Pangandaman approved a special allotment release order for the pension funds.

The latest funding will cover the regular pension requirements of military retirees for the first quarter of this year.

Data showed that as of end-2022, there are 137,649 pensioners covered by the monthly pension requirement for January to March.

The fund release is chargeable to the Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF) under the 2023 national budget.

This year, PGF has an allocation of P272.94 billion, almost 50 percent higher than the 2022 level of P183.94 billion.

Pangandaman said the timely release of funds for the pension requirements of military retirees is in recognition of their critical role in the security and stability of the country. – With additional reports from Michael Punongbayan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Louise Maureen Simeon