MANILA (AP) — The Philippine interim defense chief has tendered his resignation, authorities said on Monday. It is the most recent of the high-level changes recorded in the field of security and which has generated speculation about the resumption of military unrest.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted “with deep regret” the resignation of acting Defense Minister Jose Faustino Jr. and offered the job to Carlito Galvez Jr., another retired general who has been embroiled in peace talks with rebel groups, said presidential spokeswoman Cheloy Garafil.
Galvez accepted the offer, Garafil said without giving further details, including the reason for the resignation of Faustino, the former military chief of staff.
On Saturday Marcos shortened the mandate of the military chief of staff, Lieutenant General Bartolome Bacarro, whom he had appointed just five months ago, and replaced him with a retired general without explaining the unexpected move.
Faustino is a supporter of Bacarro and was his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy. Bacarro received the military’s highest award for bravery in combat as a junior Army officer and his three-year term was expected to end in August 2025.
The appointment of military commanders is a sensitive issue. The Philippine military has a history of failed coup attempts and corruption scandals, and has faced allegations of human rights violations. For years there have been attempts to instill professionalism in the military and insulate it from the country’s traditionally chaotic and corrupt politics.
Lieutenant General Andres Centino, the military chief of staff whom Bacarro replaced in August last year, was reinstated by Marcos at the head of the 144,000-strong armed forces. Centino, who is expected to retire next month, was chosen from a dozen high-ranking generals and will serve a new three-year term.