DEFENSE Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr and Armed Forces (AFP) chief Gen. Andres Centino were mum on why President Marcos Jr replaced Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro as AFP chief, cutting short his three-year term provided under a new law.
“As to what happened to General Bacarro, I am not privy to that because it is a policy decision,” Galvez told a press conference after presiding over a command conference of the AFP at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Galvez was asked during the press briefing if he asked the President, or has he been informed by the President, why he replaced Bacarro.
It was Marcos who replaced Centino with Bacarro, a recipient of the highest military decoration Medal of Valor, in August last year.
Centino first assumed the top military post in November 2021 during the Duterte administration. He took his oath of office as AFP chief before President Marcos in Malacañang last Friday, the same day his appointment to his old post was announced. Turnover rites were held the following day.
Asked why he was reappointed by the President as AFP chief, Centino said it is the prerogative of the President to appoint a new AFP chief or terminate the designation of a sitting military chief.
“As soldiers, we have to abide. When I relinquished the top post of the AFP last year, I accepted the order of the President and waited out for my retirement. And again when I was appointed, I just had to accept the order,” said Centino.
Bacarro was supposed to serve for three consecutive years, unless sooner terminated by the President, under Republic Act 11709 that took effect on July 1 last year.
When asked if he is going to serve for three years, Centino said, “It’s really up to the President as I’ve said.”
Centino said after turning over the top AFP post to Bacarro in August last year, he just waited for his retirement date, which is on February 4 when he reaches the age of 56.
“I was just here in Metro Manila, just near the camp if ever I will be called… So I have to make myself available. There were activities that I have to attend, social functions, basically as an active military officer,” said Centino.
“Just last week, I was called by Malacañang to take my oath of office and that was actually last Friday and the following day, we had the change of command and I took over from Lt. Gen. Bacarro,” said Centino.
Former AFP chief Jose Faustino Jr, who was DND officer-in-charge when Bacarro was removed, submitted his resignation last Friday, saying he learned of Centino’s reappointment and oathtaking only through news and social media. President Marcos accepted Faustino’s resignation and named Galvez as defense secretary.
Rumors of destabilization plot spread following the replacement of Bacarro as AFP chief. Defense and military officials debunked these talks, saying the morale of troops remains high.
Yesterday, Galvez said, “There is no truth to unrest (in the Armed Forces).”
ISSUES
Galvez said there may be issues on the promotion of officers and assignment of military commanders but said these are being addressed by the Board of Generals, which is chaired by the AFP chief.
“We have to respect the decision of the President. As we have all said, the Armed Forces respects the decision of the President and the wisdom of the President,” said Galvez.
Galvez said yesterday’s command conference showed the camaraderie of the Armed Forces and the DND.
“We are all happy and we will make sure that as we go forward, we will make sure that meritocracy and also inclusivity, and sense of fairness will always prevail in the professionalization of the Armed Forces,” said Galvez.
“We can assure (the public) that during our watch we always maintain the integrity of the Board of the Generals and the decision of the Board of Senior Officers,” added Galvez.
Galvez said “we cannot go anywhere” if there will be squabbling in the Armed Forces.
Galvez thanked the President for his trust and confidence in appointing him as the defense secretary. Galvez, a former Armed Forces chief, said he is “very very happy to be back” at Camp Aguinaldo as the DND chief.
“I commit myself to be loyal to the mandate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND in securing the state and protecting our people and also protecting this administration,” said Galvez.
“We would like to announce that the AFP and DND are together to ensure the success of the Marcos administration,” added Galvez.
INTEGRITY
Galvez said the President’s instruction to the DND and to the AFP is “to maintain the integrity of our country and second is to eliminate already the different insurgencies that we have.”
Galvez was referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army and other threat groups being confronted by the Armed Forces.”
Galvez issued a set of command guidance to the Armed Forces during the command conference. One of them is to “embody unwavering patriotism and loyalty as the DND performs its mandate to the Filipino people and the country while committing to the priorities and national vision of the commander-in-chief.”
Another guidance was to “address the growing and significant challenges to the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
