Former chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and retired Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. has been selected by President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to take the reins as the secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).
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https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/17/enrile-to-become-palace-legal-counsel-guevarra-faustino-also-tapped/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/06/17/ex-afp-chief-faustino-takes-top-dnd-post-in-marcos-jr-s-cabinet/
The 56-year-old will first assume office as Defense Undersecretary and officer-in-charge on June 30 and, by Nov. 13, 2022, will fully adopt the mantle of DND Secretary pursuant to the one-year ban on the appointment of retired military officers mandated by Republic Act (RA) 6975.
Faustino–who has been in military service from 1988 to 2021–was the 56th chief-of-staff of the AFP from July 31, 2021 and retired from the AFP on Nov. 12, 2021.
He was also the 63rd acting Commanding General of the Philippine Army from Feb. 16, 2021 up until May 14, 2021.
In 1988, he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy’s “Maringal” Class of 1988.
Outgoing Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has welcomed the Marcos’ chosen replacement for the Cabinet post.
“I am confident that with his years of dedicated service as a military officer, Gen. Faustino will continue the Department’s momentum in our internal security and external defense operations, as well as the modernization of the armed forces and the entire defense organization,” Lorenzana said on Friday, June 17, following the Cabinet reveal.
The AFP also lauded Faustino’s appointment to the Defense post.
“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,” AFP Spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said on June 18.
As defense secretary, Faustino will lead the executive department responsible with protecting the country from threats to peace and security both internal and external.