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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Galvez bares reason behind decision to step down as Marcos' peace adviser

Galvez bares reason behind decision to step down as Marcos' peace adviser

Published Apr 21, 2026 02:24 pm
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. leads the ceremonial signing of the PAMANA Program agreements at Foro de Intramuros in Manila on Thursday, March 26, formalizing partnerships with around 100 local government units for the rollout of P5-billion worth of development projects in conflict-affected communities. (Photo taken by Diann Calucin)
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. leads the ceremonial signing of the PAMANA Program agreements at Foro de Intramuros in Manila on Thursday, March 26, formalizing partnerships with around 100 local government units for the rollout of P5-billion worth of development projects in conflict-affected communities. (Photo taken by Diann Calucin)
After nearly five decades in the public eye, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. formally announced his retirement as the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity on Tuesday, April 21.
Galvez cited personal and family obligations as the primary reason for his departure from the Marcos Cabinte, adding that his resignation takes effect immediately.
“This decision is borne of a personal necessity to attend to the health of my wife, and to devote myself to my family—a commitment that is, perhaps, long overdue,” Galvez said in a statement, without elaborating on the condition of his wife, Marissa.
Galvez, a retired military general, concludes a career spanning 46 years of continuous public service.
He previously served as the 50th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2018 under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
He also became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic, having served as the Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and the country’s “vaccine czar.”
In 2023, he also took on the role of officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense (DND) for five months.
The outgoing peace adviser expressed his thanks to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “for his unwavering trust and for the opportunity to serve the Filipino people.”
“I am deeply honored to President Marcos for extending my tenure, allowing me the continuity to see our shared peace initiatives through to this chapter,” he added.
OPAPRU chief
Galvez led the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) for eight years. He was appointed as the peace adviser on December 12, 2018 by then president Duterte and when the latter’s term ended in 2022, he continued to serve in a holdover capacity.
After briefly serving as officer-in-charge of the DND, Marcos later reappointed Galvez as OPAPRU chief on June 26, 2023.
As the OPAPRU chief, Galvez was instrumental in the delicate implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process. He oversaw the transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the decommissioning of thousands of former combatants.
His leadership was defined by a shift toward "localized peace engagements." This strategy aimed to address the roots of insurgency through community-based reconciliation rather than purely military solutions.
“My heart also goes out to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Having walked the ranks with you for decades in winning and securing the peace, I thank you for your gallantry and for the years of shared sacrifice in the name of our flag; you are the silent anchors of our democracy,” Galvez said.
“To our domestic and international peace partners: your steadfast support has been the bedrock of our progress in the Philippine Comprehensive Peace Process. The milestones we have achieved are a testament to our collective vision, and for this, I am eternally grateful,” he added.
“To the men and women of OPAPRU: you are the vanguard of our nation’s peace process. Your dedication to guarding and sustaining peace in our communities is truly admirable. It has been a privilege to lead such a resilient and inspired team for eight solid years,” he continued.
Galvez retires days after Año left
Galvez' departure came days after Eduardo Año, also a retired military general, announced his retirement as the National Security Adviser last April 16.
Both Galvez and Año served in the Duterte administration, the latter as the Interior secretary, and both were replaced by former government workers under the Aquino administration.
While Año was succeeded by retired military general Eduardo Oban, who served as AFP chief of staff under the administration of the late president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Galvez was replaced by Mel Sarmiento, who had served as the Interior secretary under the Aquino administration.
Galvez described Sarmiento as a “champion of good governance and a man of peace.” He expressed “full confidence” that the pursuit of a lasting peace would reach “even greater heights” under the new leadership.
Sarmiento previously served as a vice mayor and mayor of Calbayog. He was also a member of the House of Representatives from Samar’s first district, and chairperson of the Galing Pook Foundation.
“I transition from this office with full confidence in the future. The Philippine comprehensive peace process is in capable hands,” Galvez said.
“Though I leave my official post, my heart remains with the nation. Until my final breath, I remain a humble servant of the Filipino people,” he concluded.

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Carlito Galvez Jr. OPAPRU peace adviser
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