Galvez says DND officials 'will stay' amid changes in leadership

Department of National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez on Wednesday said that all officials of the department will remain in their posts amid changes in its leadership.

In Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras," Galvez asked the officials to stay and help achieve the 10-point agenda initiated by outgoing officer-in-charge, General Jose Faustino Jr., which includes the modernization program, external defense, disaster response, and raising the level of the military.

He also said via text message that he did not receive any resignation papers from its officials. 

"I did not receive any resignation papers. All DND officials will stay," he said, including officials appointed by Faustino.

Galvez was not present during the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) New Year's Call since he went to see the flood situation in Mindanao with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

On his behalf, DND Undersecretary Angelito De Leon gave his message praising the DND and AFP for dealing with the country's severe challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown.

De Leon played down the controversy on the appointment of Galvez as well as the replacement by General Andres Centino of General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro as AFP chief of staff.

“Nagkaroon po ng pagpupulong, in executive session ang outgoing and incoming. Nagkaroon po sila ng transfer a smooth transfer in programs and activities," he said.

"A courtesy resignation is a customary process. Whenever there is a new head in the agency, the key officials will render their courtesy resignation for the purpose of giving a free hand to the newly designated head of the dept. This is nothing extraordinary. It is incumbent upon the newly designated head of agency to either accept or reject. We all agreed to stay," he added.

De Leon also said there is no need to conduct a loyalty check among DND and AFP personnel with this shift in command.

"Let me give my assessment based on the turnout in this morning's traditional joint DND New Year's call. All the key commanders were there, including the key staff officers of the AFP and the DND civilian bureaus, so I think there is no issue with the morale. The morale remains high we're focused on our mandate," he added.

When asked about the reason for the reappointment of General Andres Centino, who is scheduled to retire in February, De Leon said only the President could answer.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News