LT. GEN. Roy Galido assumes command as chief of the Philippine Army today, Monday, replacing now Armed Forces Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
President Marcos Jr., the military’s commander-in-chief, is scheduled to lead the change of command ceremony at the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
Yesterday, Galido said he will revisit the organizational set-up of the Army, in keeping with the directive of the President.
“It’s in line with the President’s directive on recalibrating the ISO, internal security operation,” said Galido, adding: “It will necessitate the Army to reorganize and revisit its set-up, organizational setup, to be more responsive to the changing security environment.”
Galido said that while operations against internal security threats will continue, soldiers will also focus on “dealing with the community.”
He said soldiers will step up their collaboration with local government units to address security concerns and issues, noting the Army has a presence in far-flung areas.
“We will be (the) conduit for services needed in the far-flung areas,” he said.
The Department of National Defense announced the appointment of Galido, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1990, as Army chief last week.
Before his appointment, Galido was the commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), which is supervising operations against terrorist groups and other threat groups in western Mindanao.
Galido will take over as Army chief from Brawner, who assumed command as Armed Forces chief last July 21. Brawner replaced Gen. Andres Centino, now the presidential adviser on the West Philippine Sea.
Asked who will succeed him as Westmincom commander, Galido said: “None yet, it’s still for deliberation.”
Sources said the possible successors of Galido as Westmincom commander include Maj. Generals Antonio Nafarrete, Alex Rillera, and Ignatius Patrimonio, commanders of the 1st, 6th, and 11th infantry divisions, respectively.
Apart from Nafarrete, Rillera and Patrimonio, there are other equally-qualified officers who can succeed Galido as Westmincom commander, one of the sources said.
