Koko, JV expect swift CA nod on Galvez's appointment as DND chief

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Senator JV Ejercito believe the Commission on Appointments (CA) will approve the appointment of former military chief Carlito Galvez Jr. as Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).

"The record of [General/Secretary] Galvez as a military man is solid. Hence, I don't see any problem with CA confirmation," Pimentel said in a text message on Tuesday.

"The only thing [that] can be raised against him is related to COVID-19, which is not related to the DND functions," he added.

During the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Galvez served as the head of the military, peace adviser, country's vaccine czar, and chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

"Sec. Galvez has been active as head of the peace panel, chief of staff and then doon sa pandemic, vaccine czar, I guess, I don't think he will have a problem with CA," Ejercito said when asked if the bicameral commission would swiftly approve Galvez's appointment.

However, Ejercito said that the CA will do its job, particularly in investigating the new DND chief's background.

Meanwhile, Ejercito and Senator Jinggoy Estrada believed that Galvez could address reports of unrest within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"Secretary Galvez...he did well as chief of staff and as the one assigned to the peace process for a long time. So I'm hoping that given his personality, as well as his character, he will be able to at least unite the AFP, given the issues," Ejercito said.

"This move by the President, hopefully, will somehow give a sense of stability insofar as the leadership in the DND and its attached agencies/organizations are concerned," Estrada added. 

Pimentel said the AFP "will not and should not be 'destabilized' by the issue of personnel movement and promotions."

"The AFP is larger than the sum total of its personnel," the minority leader said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News