Guerrero confident Galvez is capable of handling job as top man of AFP
Published Apr 15, 2018 06:29 pm
By Francis Wakefield
Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Rey Leonardo Guerrero today expressed confidence that incoming Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., is capable of handling the job as the top man of the 125,000-strong military force.
AFP Chief of Staff General Rey Leonardo Guerrero (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview following the retirement honors tendered to him by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City, Guerrero said Galvez is a very competent officer and can lead the military especially in its modernization efforts and bringing peace to the land.
"Nakita natin (We have seen already), he has proven himself, in terms of his ability to lead yung ating mga (our) forces," Guerrero said.
"He has been assigned on different levels, naging (from) tactical, naging (from) battalion commander. He has been assigned as a brigade commander, he has served as a staff at the GHQ. Aside from that he had special duties in the peace process, and most recently, he has distinguished himself as a Western Mindanao commander during the Marawi siege. So he’s more than capable," he added.
Guerrero, at the same time, thanked President Duterte for giving him the opportunity to lead the AFP.
"Of course. Sabi ko bihira itong ano e opportunity (Like I said this kind of opportunity is rare). It’s an honor and a privilege to have served as chief of staff of the Armed Forced of the Philippines," Guerrero said.
"It has been a long journey, and my journey has ended here again in PMA where it all started. My career has come full circle," he added.
The change-of-command ceremony is on Wednesday, April 18, at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand in Quezon City.
Guerrero said to make a smooth transition of power, he prepared a transition team
to handle the matter.
"Nagsimula na kami (We already started). I prepared a transition team when I visited the Western Mindanao Command as part of my farewell visit there. I already initially briefed General Galvez about what to expect, and the things that need to be done," he said.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Sandiwa" Class of 1985, Galvez will replace Guerrero who will retire from the military service on April 18.
Guerrero, it was recalled, was supposed to retire on December 17, 2017 on his 56th birthday but his term of office was extended by the President for an additional four months.
Galvez, who is the 9th cmmander of Western Mindanao Command, has been with the military service for more than 34 years with all his command billets spent in conflict-affected areas of mainland Mindanao, Basilan and Sulu.
He is an Airborne-, Intelligence- and Scout Ranger-qualified. His fields of specialty include the following: combat and intelligence operations; leadership development, counter-terrorism; humanitarian assistance; strategic management; systems dynamics modeling; and peace-building; negotiation and mediation (“Rido” Settlement).
He completed his Masters in Project Management at the University of New South Wales, Australia in 2004. He also participated and finished Executive Education at Harvard University, Massachusetts; Asian Institute of Management Center for Bridging Leadership; Infantry Officer Advance Course in Fort Benning, Georgia; Military Operation Research Symposium in Singapore; Crisis Management Course in Hawaii; Counter-terrorism Conference, NDU, D.C.; and Rules of Engagement in San Remo, Italy.
Galvez graduated from the AFP Command and Staff College Class 47 as the class president and valedictorian (CSAFP and CGPA Award).
Among his notable achievements are recipient of the most prestigious United States Eisenhower Fellowships in 2006 and one of the “The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers” (TOPS) in 2007
Additionally, during his stint as commander of the First Scout Ranger Battalion, which operated against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan, the said unit was adjudged as the Best Scout Ranger Battalion for two consecutive years in 2000 and 2001 and was chosen as the Philippine Army Best Battalion for Combat Operations in 2002.
In 2013, during the height of the Zamboanga Siege, he led the successful defense of Lamitan City, during the onslaught of combined forces of Abu Sayyaf Group and lawless elements from September 12 to 14, 2013.
During the Marawi Siege, he provided strategic direction and inspiration and deployed forces to successfully rescue the civilian hostages, neutralize Isnilon Hapilon, all the Maute Brothers and terrorists, and clear Marawi during the five months of continuous battle.
As WestMinCom commander, he was able to lead his six Joint Task Forces with resounding success, with the neutralization of 436 Abu Sayyaf members, 276 communist terrorists, 311 BIFF members, and 1,065 Maute members.
In line with the pronouncement of President Duterte, the campaign against loose firearms was launched by the troops to implement the security, governance and development strategies of martial law in Mindanao. Through the diplomatic mentoring strategy of Galvez, a total of 1,343 loose firearms were surrendered to and recovered by the Joint Task Forces, 345 of which were from Central Mindanao, 195 from ZamPeLan, 229 from Zamboanga City, and 574 from Sulu.
He is also a bemedaled officer with a Philippine Legion of Honor, three Distinguished Service Stars, two Outstanding Achievement Medals, six Gold Cross Medals, eight Bronze Cross Medals, 40 Military Merit and Commendation Medals and lastly the Wounded Personnel Medal.
Galvez is also a recipient of the DSWD “Salamat Po” Humanitarian Award and an Outstanding Citizen of Taguig City Award. Just recently, he was awarded by President Duterte with the Order of Lapu-lapu, Level of Kamagi, for his outstanding performance as the unified commander during the liberation of Marawi City.
Galvez is happily married to the former Marissa M Pascua, an international flight purser of Philippine Airlines and blessed with a daughter, Mary Frances Therese.
AFP Chief of Staff General Rey Leonardo Guerrero (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview following the retirement honors tendered to him by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City, Guerrero said Galvez is a very competent officer and can lead the military especially in its modernization efforts and bringing peace to the land.
"Nakita natin (We have seen already), he has proven himself, in terms of his ability to lead yung ating mga (our) forces," Guerrero said.
"He has been assigned on different levels, naging (from) tactical, naging (from) battalion commander. He has been assigned as a brigade commander, he has served as a staff at the GHQ. Aside from that he had special duties in the peace process, and most recently, he has distinguished himself as a Western Mindanao commander during the Marawi siege. So he’s more than capable," he added.
Guerrero, at the same time, thanked President Duterte for giving him the opportunity to lead the AFP.
"Of course. Sabi ko bihira itong ano e opportunity (Like I said this kind of opportunity is rare). It’s an honor and a privilege to have served as chief of staff of the Armed Forced of the Philippines," Guerrero said.
"It has been a long journey, and my journey has ended here again in PMA where it all started. My career has come full circle," he added.
The change-of-command ceremony is on Wednesday, April 18, at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand in Quezon City.
Guerrero said to make a smooth transition of power, he prepared a transition team
to handle the matter.
"Nagsimula na kami (We already started). I prepared a transition team when I visited the Western Mindanao Command as part of my farewell visit there. I already initially briefed General Galvez about what to expect, and the things that need to be done," he said.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Sandiwa" Class of 1985, Galvez will replace Guerrero who will retire from the military service on April 18.
Guerrero, it was recalled, was supposed to retire on December 17, 2017 on his 56th birthday but his term of office was extended by the President for an additional four months.
Galvez, who is the 9th cmmander of Western Mindanao Command, has been with the military service for more than 34 years with all his command billets spent in conflict-affected areas of mainland Mindanao, Basilan and Sulu.
He is an Airborne-, Intelligence- and Scout Ranger-qualified. His fields of specialty include the following: combat and intelligence operations; leadership development, counter-terrorism; humanitarian assistance; strategic management; systems dynamics modeling; and peace-building; negotiation and mediation (“Rido” Settlement).
He completed his Masters in Project Management at the University of New South Wales, Australia in 2004. He also participated and finished Executive Education at Harvard University, Massachusetts; Asian Institute of Management Center for Bridging Leadership; Infantry Officer Advance Course in Fort Benning, Georgia; Military Operation Research Symposium in Singapore; Crisis Management Course in Hawaii; Counter-terrorism Conference, NDU, D.C.; and Rules of Engagement in San Remo, Italy.
Galvez graduated from the AFP Command and Staff College Class 47 as the class president and valedictorian (CSAFP and CGPA Award).
Among his notable achievements are recipient of the most prestigious United States Eisenhower Fellowships in 2006 and one of the “The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers” (TOPS) in 2007
Additionally, during his stint as commander of the First Scout Ranger Battalion, which operated against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan, the said unit was adjudged as the Best Scout Ranger Battalion for two consecutive years in 2000 and 2001 and was chosen as the Philippine Army Best Battalion for Combat Operations in 2002.
In 2013, during the height of the Zamboanga Siege, he led the successful defense of Lamitan City, during the onslaught of combined forces of Abu Sayyaf Group and lawless elements from September 12 to 14, 2013.
During the Marawi Siege, he provided strategic direction and inspiration and deployed forces to successfully rescue the civilian hostages, neutralize Isnilon Hapilon, all the Maute Brothers and terrorists, and clear Marawi during the five months of continuous battle.
As WestMinCom commander, he was able to lead his six Joint Task Forces with resounding success, with the neutralization of 436 Abu Sayyaf members, 276 communist terrorists, 311 BIFF members, and 1,065 Maute members.
In line with the pronouncement of President Duterte, the campaign against loose firearms was launched by the troops to implement the security, governance and development strategies of martial law in Mindanao. Through the diplomatic mentoring strategy of Galvez, a total of 1,343 loose firearms were surrendered to and recovered by the Joint Task Forces, 345 of which were from Central Mindanao, 195 from ZamPeLan, 229 from Zamboanga City, and 574 from Sulu.
He is also a bemedaled officer with a Philippine Legion of Honor, three Distinguished Service Stars, two Outstanding Achievement Medals, six Gold Cross Medals, eight Bronze Cross Medals, 40 Military Merit and Commendation Medals and lastly the Wounded Personnel Medal.
Galvez is also a recipient of the DSWD “Salamat Po” Humanitarian Award and an Outstanding Citizen of Taguig City Award. Just recently, he was awarded by President Duterte with the Order of Lapu-lapu, Level of Kamagi, for his outstanding performance as the unified commander during the liberation of Marawi City.
Galvez is happily married to the former Marissa M Pascua, an international flight purser of Philippine Airlines and blessed with a daughter, Mary Frances Therese.