The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has welcomed the appointment of former military chief Jose Faustino Jr. as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Department of National Defense under the incoming administration.
"The AFP will support General Faustino's plans and programs as we face our country's present and future challenges," Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP spokesperson, said on Friday night, June 17.
Faustino is a retired general who served as the 56th AFP Chief of Staff from July 31, 2021 until Nov. 12, 2021.
He is a seasoned military officer who hunted communist guerillas and terrorists in Mindanao for most of his career.
When he became the commander of the 10th Infantry Division from December 2018 to January 2020, he successfully dismantled six Pulang Bagani commands of the New People's Army (NPA) and four Guerilla Fronts (GFs) in his area of jurisdiction.
From there, he slowly made his way up the ladder until he became the military chief albeit for a brief four months.
"His over 38 years of military service that culminated in him being the AFP Chief of Staff gave him exclusive and firsthand knowledge of the country's security and defense situation," Zagala said.
Outgoing DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had also expressed support to the designation of Faustino as his replacement.