More Senior DND Officials Step Down

At least nine ranking officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) tendered their courtesy resignations on Tuesday, Jan. 10, following the move of their former boss Jose Faustino Jr. to quit, a decision that he admitted was prompted by the reappointment of Gen. Andres Centino as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong, however, stressed that such resignations are normal in agencies that undergo change in leadership. He said the resigned officials were co-terminus with Faustino.

“It’s customary and part of procedure for co-terminus officials appointed by the President to resign,” Andolong told reporters.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Faustino expressed resentment at being kept in the dark regarding Centino’s appointment. Faustino said he filed his resignation on Jan. 6 after learning only from news reports and social media that a new AFP chief had taken his oath at Malacañang.

National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos also admitted she was at a loss, saying she had no prior knowledge of Faustino’s resignation, nor of his replacement by Carlito Galvez Jr. and of Centino’s appointment as AFP chief.

“Like you, I’m equally confused,” she told “The Chiefs” in an interview over One News on Monday night, Jan. 9, adding that she is “not really privy to what’s happening in the Palace.”

“I surmise that this arose from (Republic Act No. 11709) giving three-year term to chief of staff,” he added.

Malacañang, however, defended Centino’s appointment and denied Faustino’s claim that he was unaware of the new AFP chief’s oath taking on Saturday, Jan. 7.

“The President as the Commander-in-Chief has the sole prerogative to appoint the AFP chief of staff,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

Quoting Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Garafil said Faustino knew of the developments with regard to the appointment of Centino, who is the only four-star general in the AFP.

Andolong said seven to nine officials brought in by the former DND chief as part of his team tendered their courtesy resignations as early as Monday.

He said those who have expressed intentions to voluntarily step down include five undersecretaries and about four assistant secretaries.

He said it’s now up to Galvez Jr. to decide what to do with the resignations. Galvez visited the DND office at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday where he had a preliminary meeting with other officials.

In an interview with GMA News, Galvez said he already had exit briefings with Faustino.

Asked if he thought the developments have affected the morale of the DND and the AFP, Andolong explained that both were “professional organizations… and this is not the first time this happened.”

“Regardless of who holds the reins of leadership in both organizations, operations of the AFP and the DND will continue, especially as civil servants and professional soldiers continuously give their support and do what they ought to do in the performance of their mandate,” Andolong said.

Morale unaffected

He also said the developments are unlikely to affect morale, although some employees may have felt bad about Faustino’s resignation as he had been an amiable and competent OIC of the defense department.

“On a personal note, we had no problem with him. He was always very businesslike, professional, diplomatic, man of few words and I never saw him get angry. He is really a true professional that’s why many felt sad,” he added.

But he stressed many were also excited about having Galvez as the new DND Secretary.

“But overall his appointment was well accepted because we, most of them know, most of us know that the DND will be in good hands because of his experience and expertise,” he said.

While he may have been piqued at being kept in the dark on Centino’s taking over the helm of the AFP from Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, Faustino said his respect for the Armed Forces remains unshaken.

“The AFP is an institution that is loved, trusted and respected by the Filipino people. It is an upright organization that is professional, highly capable and committed to protecting our country and people from all threats, whether foreign or domestic. Our dedicated and indomitable soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines value above all honor, service and patriotism – these are the ideals that we live and die for, if need be,” his statement read.

“Through the years, the AFP has metamorphosed into an institution that the Filipino people can truly be proud of. Admittedly, it has had its own share of life’s ups and downs, but nonetheless, it genuinely strives hard to earn and deserve the trust, respect and confidence of our people and allies. It has undeniably proven its mettle over the decades. It is a highly disciplined and competent organization that will survive under any given circumstance,” he said.

“Thus, fully cognizant of the selfless sacrifice and courage of our troops and civilian human resources, I cannot allow the AFP’s reputation to be tarnished, maligned or politicized. I assure everyone that I will always hold the AFP in high esteem, which its men and women have painstakingly earned,” Faustino pointed out.

He said all the perseverance and efforts of the DND under his leadership are wholeheartedly dedicated to the Filipino people and that contributing to peace and progress is all he wanted.

“I wish nothing but the best for our country, our people and our President. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to serve the Filipino people in my former capacity as officer-in-charge of the DND,” he said.

“With all humility, I am grateful and deeply indebted to each and every one of you who helped us fulfill our mandate in the Defense Department over these past months.”

Unperturbed

Carlos, for her part, said she has also been making calls and collecting pieces of information but she has “yet to crochet them together.”

Asked for a reaction to reports that the administration has a shortlist of her possible replacements as NSA, Carlos said she believes she still enjoys the full trust and confidence of the President.

Carlos said she never applied for her position as she was minding her own business in the university when President Marcos, who did not know her personally, asked her to be his national security adviser. “He asked me and he will have to un-ask me,” she said.

She also dismissed speculations that the controversy regarding the new appointments and resignations was part of a move to destabilize the government.

“From my own investigation this morning, because I had additional data from many intel, it seemed like they came together at the same time point but they cannot be crocheted together as if they were part of one big narrative. No, they are not,” she said.

“It seemed there are two events happening in two geographies. That is my hypothesis right now given the kind of information I am privy to right now,” Carlos opined.

“Let us just hope that everybody would follow the change of command as most military people would be doing, that Centino would be a stabilizer as the new Chief of Staff and Carlito Galvez as the new Secretary of Defense,” she said.

Asked for reaction to so-called rumblings in the military, she said “rumblings will remain so until they become a critical mass and if they are able to make a move, if you get my drift.”

“I think over these many many years, they (military) have also learned a lot and they have learned what composite of factors will bring about success and what other composite of factors will bring about a failure,” Carlos said.

Senators welcome Galvez

Senators welcomed Galvez’s appointment, saying he is expected to be immediately confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) as he will bring stability to the defense and military establishment.

Senators cited his work as presidential adviser on the peace process and chief of the national task force on COVID-19 in the previous administration.

“Galvez, as a former AFP chief of staff and a bemedaled Army officer, is qualified in taking the reins of the department in charge of supervising the overall defense program of the country,” Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said in a statement.

“This move by the President, hopefully, will somehow give a sense of stability insofar as the leadership in the DND and its attached agencies/organizations are concerned,” he said.

Galvez’s appointment, which came three days after the designation of Centino as Armed Forces chief of staff, “will put to rest talks of unrest among the major service branches of the AFP,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III described Galvez’s track record as “solid.”

“Hence I don’t see any problem with CA confirmation. The only thing which can be raised against him is related to COVID-19 which is not related to the DND functions,” Pimentel said.

He expressed belief the AFP is already a mature and disciplined organization “hence it will not and should not be destabilized” by issues of personnel movement and promotions. The AFP is larger than the sum total of its personnel, Pimentel said.

Sen. Bong Go expressed belief Galvez will make significant contributions to the success of the Marcos administration, given his vast experience in government.

“I can also attest to his ability in crisis management. His composure was shown when he stayed very calm under pressure in his stint in the Western Mindanao Command during the Marawi siege (in 2017),” Go said.

Go said Galvez also successfully managed the crucial periods of the nationwide vaccination and COVID-19 response efforts that eventually led to the reopening of the economy.

Sen. Imee Marcos, the elder sister of the President, said she expects the reports of disgruntlement among some officers to die down as complaints are part of the transition as the law on the fixed term of AFP chiefs is being implemented.

“So everyone concerned must talk, because every time is a new bill, there is a need to reassess, there is a need to convene and consult all the concern stakeholders and that doesn’t only go for the military but for everyone,” she said. – With Helen Flores, Paolo Romero