BY VICTOR REYES and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
RESIGNED Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr yesterday said he had not been informed there will be changes in the military leadership, particularly the designation of Gen. Andres Centino as Armed Forces chief, so he quit.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) chief Cheloy Garafil contradicted him.
“According to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, former DND OIC Jose Faustino Jr. knew of the developments with regard to the appointment of General Andres Centino, who is the only four-star general in the AFP,” she said.
Garafil also emphasized that President Marcos Jr., as commander-in-chief, “has the sole prerogative to make appointments.”
Faustino, in a statement, said he submitted his irrevocable resignation to President Marcos Jr last Friday when the PCO announced Centino’s appointment and oath-taking.
He said he submitted his “irrevocable letter of resignation” to President Marcos Jr. on January 6 “after learning only from news and social media reports that an oath of office of the new chief of staff, AFP had taken place at Malacañang.”
On Monday, the PCO announced that the President has accepted Faustino’s resignation “with deep regret,” and the appointment of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez, a former AFP chief himself, as defense secretary.
Faustino assumed the defense portfolio at the start of the Marcos administration on June 30 last year. He served as Armed Forces chief for about four months, from July to November 2021, during the previous Duterte administration.
Malacañang, in announcing Faustino’s appointment to the DND last year, said he will be named designated as defense secretary but will temporarily be the officer-in-charge with a rank of senior undersecretary due to legal restrictions.
Then-Press Secretary Trixie Angeles said Faustino’s situation was similar to that of former Interior chief Eduardo Año, also a former Armed Forces chief.
Former President Duterte named Año as officer-in-charge of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) after the latter’s retirement from the AFP in October 2017. Año became the DILG secretary a year after a ban lapsed.
A retired military officer can be appointed to a civilian post only after a year after retirement.
Centino assumed as Armed Forces chief last Saturday at the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in rites presided over by Bersamin. Faustino was not present in the event.
Centino succeeded Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro whose three-year term, provided under Republic Act 11709 that took in July last year, was cut short by the President with the appointment of Centino. The President has the prerogative to terminate the services of the AFP chief under the same law.
Bacarro, a recipient of the highest military decoration Medal of Valor, assumed as AFP chief in August last year. He replaced Centino who was first named as AFP chief by then-President Duterte in November 2021.
Faustino, Bacarro and Centino are classmates at the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988.
SELECTION PROCESS
A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the selection of AFP chief traditionally goes through the AFP Board of Generals and the defense chief.
“Positions like the chief of staff goes through Board of Generals which prepares a shortlist.
Then it goes up to the DND, then the DND endorses the list to Malacañang,” the source said.
“I don’t know what happened in this case,” the official said, adding Centino’s selection as AFP chief did not pass through the usual process. “That’s what the letter of general Faustino is saying,” he said.
In his statement, Faustino said the Armed Forces 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,” said Faustino.
He said the Armed Forces, through the years, 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,” said Faustino.
He said the AFP has “undeniably proven its mettle over the decades.” Also, he said the military is a “highly disciplined and competent organization that will survive under any given circumstance.”
“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 said the defense department’s efforts over the past months have been dedicated to the Filipino people. He said the DND has no other intention but to contribute to peace and development.
He urged the Filipino people to continue loving and serving country faithfully and selflessly.
“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,” said Faustino.
“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,” Faustino added.
COURTESY RESIGNATIONS
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said seven to nine other presidential appointees, with the rank of undersecretary and assistant secretary, who came to department with Faustino last year are due to tender their courtesy resignation.
Among those who were brought in by Faustino to the department were undersecretary for civil, veterans and reserve affairs Franco Nemesio Cagal and and Ignacio Madriaga, both retired generals who are also members of the PMA Class 1988.
“That’s normal. Whenever a new SND (secretary of national defense) comes, its customary and part of the procedure to submit their resignation letter,” said Andolong.
“They are going to tender their courtesy resignation and it’s up to Secretary Charlie (Galvez) what to do with them… It will be up to the incoming leadership (to act on the courtesy resignation) but that is the usual (process) — to give the incoming principal a free hand in creating and appointing his own staff. So all coterminous will tender their courtesy resignation,” he said.
Andolong also said the changes in leadership at the DND and at the AFP will not affect the morale of defense and military officials and personnel.
He said the DND and the AFP are both professional organizations.
“This is not the first time this happened and the hierarchy is designed in such a way (professional organization). Since these are professional organizations, regardless of who holds the reins of leadership in both organizations, the operation of the AFP and DND will continue,” said Andolong.
“The AFP is a professional organization and it will run regardless of who commands the AFP.
It’s the same for the Department of National. It’s a well-honed machinery already and whoever is appointed as the secretary of national defense, the entire executive staff and the personnel will always support him or her,” he added.
Andolong said some may have been saddened by the departure of Faustino who he descried as a “true professional.”
“In the same vein, many are excited with the arrival of secretary Galvez. There are some who are anxious because they are not familiar with his management style. But overall, his appointment was well-accepted because most of us know that the DND will be in good hands in good hands because of his experience and expertise,” said Andolong.
During the “Laging Handa” press briefing, AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said, “We support the designation of Secretary Galvez as the secretary of the Department of National Defense, he being a former chief of staff (of the AFP), a military officer and a peace advocate.”
Galvez served as AFP chief from April 2018 to December 2018.
“I think these are the capabilities that will make him very effective in attaining the mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Andolong said.
DESTAB TALKS
PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has identified the sources of the supposed memorandum about the PNP going on heightened alert due to destabilization plot in the AFP following the change in military leadership last week.
“Our PNP-ACG has identified sources of these documents but I am not liberty to reveal their initial findings,” Fajardo told a television interview.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr has ordered an investigation to determine and arrest the sources of false information. The military denied unrest in its ranks, adding it is supporting the President’s decision.
PNP officials have said the PNP went on heightened alert due to the Feast of Black Nazarene on January 9 and the upcoming Sinulong Festival in Cebu.
Fajardo said the ACG and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group continue to look into the matter.
“That’s part of the ongoing investigation,” said Fajardo when asked if the spread of the false documents came from the PNP or not.
“What is clear here is we declared heightened alert over the weekend not because of the destabilization plot but because of the religious festivities,” she said, referring to the Feast of Black Nazarene and Sinulog Festival.
She said police officials whose names appeared in the documents have been told to explain.
GALVEZ CONFIRMATION
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III said it will be smooth sailing for Galvez at the Commission on Appointments.
“The record of General/Secretary Galvez as a military man is solid. Hence, I don’t see any problem with CA confirmation. The only thing which can be raised against him is related to (the government’s response against) COVID-19 which is not related to the DND functions,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel also said the AFP is “already a mature and disciplined organization, hence it will not and should not be ‘destabilized’ by the issue of personnel movement and promotions.”
“The AFP is larger that the sum total of its personnel,” he added.
Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said Galvez’ appointment as defense secretary is a “welcome development” since the former peace adviser is very qualified for the post.
He said Galvez has “proved his mettle as National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar.”
He added Marcos’ move to appoint a defense secretary “will put to rest talks of unrest among the major service branches of the AFP.”
Sen. Imee Marcos, in an interview on Monday, expressed hope the issue hounding the Armed Forces due to the new law, RA 11709, which prescribes a fix three-year term for the AFP chief of staff and other key military officials, will be settled.
She said the new law is experiencing “birth pains” and the concerned officials will have to adopt to it.
She said that while talks of destabilization in the military was denied by its leadership, it is something that needs to be discussed by concerned parties.
“Well, inaasahan ko na puro fake news yan. Pero ang totoo, when there’s smoke, there is fire, kaya kailangan yata na mag-usap usap ang lahat dahil every time there is a new bill, there is need to reassess, there is a need to convene and consult all the concerned stakeholders and that doesn’t only go for the military but for everyone (Well, I am expecting that these are fake news. Out in truth, when there’s smoke, there is fire that’s why there is a need for all concerned to talk about this because each time there is a new bill, there is a need to reassess, there is a need to convene and consult all the concerned stakeholders and that doesn’t only goes for the military but for everyone),” she said. — With Raymond Africa
