Faustino assumes post as 56th AFP chief

Former Joint Task Force Mindanao commander Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr. on Saturday assumed his new post as the 56th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

He replaced General Cirilito Sobejana, who retired from the military on the same day.

President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the event,  and was represented by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

In his speech, Faustino said he intends to pursue a reliable and appropriate defense posture for the attainment of lasting peace in the country.

“The AFP’s overall military disposition, condition of readiness and strength shall be fine-tuned to respond to the challenges we are now facing. The country’s internal and external security issues, the present COVID-19 pandemic and of course, natural disasters,” Faustino said.

Also, the new AFP chief said he will sustain the gains that the military has achieved in Mindanao, especially in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as the anti-insurgency efforts of the government.

He proposed the creation of the Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CPCVE) which, he said, will help the force to understand the “intricacies of violent extremism and find relevant solutions” for it.

“The CPCVE will provide a holistic, inter-disciplinary, collaborative, community-based, preventive approach to study, document and quantify the nature and magnitude of threat factors that contribute to the radicalization of our countrymen,” Faustino said.

Apart from this, the new AFP chief will also seek the establishment of the Center for Self-Reliant Defense Posture.

Faustino said this would protect the country’s interest from foreign control and promote limited dependence on outside support for the AFP's defense requirements.

“Self-reliance on our country’s defense manufacturing capability coupled with the full utilization of our own natural resources will be the foundation of the SRDP program,” he said.

Apart from this, Faustino will seek a review and the upgrade of active force deployment policies to prepare the military for the country’s current needs.

He assured the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies that the AFP will support the anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns of the government.

He also vowed to follow the AFP transformation roadmap to achieve its goal of becoming a world-class organization.

Sobejana, for his part, vouched for Faustino’s “extraordinary leadership.”

“I am certain that the Armed forces will reach greater heights in the coming days with Gen. Faustino at the helm,” he said.

On the other hand, Defense chief Lorenzana welcomed Faustino’s assumption of the new post, and reminded him of the responsibilities that the AFP chief must carry.

“Your leadership is vital, especially now that the country is facing challenging times. And as the term of the president goes to a close, the Armed Forces needs to work doubly hard to accomplish the remaining projects of the [present] administration,” Lorenzana said.

He assured Faustino that the Department of National Defense will support his leadership.

In a video message at the latter part of the change-of-command ceremony, Duterte recognized Sobejana’s military career and his “invaluable contribution” to the advancement of the AFP.

Duterte recalled Sobejana’s “rare and historic” feat when he had a gunfight with the Abu Sayyaf rebels in Basilan in 1995. Sobejana has earned a Medal of Valor after the incident.

“General Sobejana, you have the utmost respect and gratitude of the entire nation. I hope that the entire organization under its new leadership will be inspired by your example,” Duterte said.

Malacañang announced last Friday the appointment of Faustino, who is due to retire in November this year.

Faustino was appointed as Philippine Army chief in February but his term was cut short after Senator Panfilo Lacson flagged his appointment as it was against the law. He was named JTF Mindanao commander in June.

Before serving as Army chief, Faustino headed the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) based in Davao City, Duterte's hometown. —LBG, GMA News