DEPARTMENT of National Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. on Monday laid out to the military some of his priorities, including the defense of the nation’s territory as directed by President Marcos.
Faustino unveiled his priorities during a command conference with the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo, his first since taking the helm of the DND last July 1.
AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino and Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner were among the military officials present during the command conference.
Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said Faustino relayed to the military the directive of President Marcos “to defend every square inch of the country’s territory.
“The DND OIC also discussed his priorities such as defending the nation’s territorial integrity, protecting the Filipino people, and ensuring state sovereignty,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad said Faustino also vowed to sustain the implementation of the AFP Modernization Program, which calls for the acquisition of modern equipment for the military.
Faustino’s message came a day before the sixth-year anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that upheld the Philippine claim and invalidated China’s excessive claim in the West Philippine Sea.
Faustino’s remarks were similar to the assurance he gave his immediate predecessor, now Bases Conversion Development Authority chairman Delfin Lorenzana, when he took over the helm of the DND.
“Sir, rest assured that we will continue all the good undertakings that you have laid down to defend our country’s territorial integrity, protect the Filipino people and ensure sovereignty of our Republic,” Faustino told Lorenzana.
A retired Army general, Faustino served as Armed Forces chief from July to November last year. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1988.
Faustino also once served as commander of the AFP Joint Task Force Mindanao, acting Army chief, and commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command.
