Retired General
Carlito G. Galvez Jr.
AFP, CCLH, OLH, OAM
Galvez in 2019
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity
Assumed office
June 26, 2023
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byUsec. Isidro L. Purisima (Acting)
In office
December 12, 2018 – January 9, 2023
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Bongbong Marcos
Preceded byJesus Dureza
Succeeded byUsec. Isidro L. Purisima (Acting)
Secretary of National Defense
In office
January 9, 2023 – June 5, 2023
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byUsec. Jose Faustino Jr. (OIC)
Succeeded byGilberto Teodoro Jr.
Senior Undersecretary of National Defense
In office
January 9, 2023 – June 26, 2023
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byJose Faustino Jr.
Succeeded byAngelito M. De Leon (Acting)
IATF-EID Vaccine Czar
In office
November 2, 2020 – June 30, 2022
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Chief Implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19
In office
March 16, 2020 – June 30, 2022
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
50th Chief of Staff of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
April 18, 2018 – December 11, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byGen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero
Succeeded byGen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
Personal details
Born
Carlito Guancing Galvez Jr.

(1962-12-12) December 12, 1962
Bustos, Bulacan, Philippines
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy
University of New South Wales (M.PM)
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service1985–2018
RankGeneral General
UnitChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
AFP Western Mindanao Command
6th Infantry Division
Chairman, Government of the Philippines Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-CCCH)
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Organization & Training, J3
104th Brigade, 1 ID
Task Group Panther Bravo, FSSR
1st Scout Ranger Battalion, FSSR
Battles/warsMoro conflict
Communist rebellion in the Philippines
Zamboanga City crisis
Battle of Marawi

Carlito Guancing Galvez Jr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [kaɾˈlito ˈɡalvɛs], born December 12, 1962) is a retired Philippine Army general serving as the Senior Undersecretary and briefly as officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense since 2023 and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process since 2018. He also served as the Chief Implementer of the Philippines' Declared National Policy Against COVID-19 (COVID-19 National Task Force).[1] In November 2020, he was appointed as the country's COVID-19 vaccine czar,[2] and was responsible for leading the government's efforts in bringing into the country about 245.23 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of May 2022 beginning in 2021 despite the global vaccine shortage.[3] Prior to this, he also previously served as the 50th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from April to December 2018.[4][5]

Education

A member of the PMA Sandiwa class of 1985, Galvez was also trained in airborne, intelligence, and special operations, particularly in the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment. Galvez received his master's degree in Project Management in the University of New South Wales, Australia, and took the Executive Education program in Harvard University, in Massachusetts. Galvez also has a specialty on Humanitarian Assistance, Strategic Management, and Peace-building Negotiations.[6]

Galvez also attended the Asian Institute of Management Center for Bridging Leadership, the Infantry Officer Advance Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, the Military Operation Research Symposium in Singapore, the Crisis Management Course in Hawaii, the Counter-terrorism Conference in the National Defense University, in Washington, D.C., the Rules of Engagement in Sanremo, Italy and the AFP Command and Staff College Class 47, where he served as Class President and Valedictorian.[7]

Military career

Galvez with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman and Chief Minister of Bangsamoro Murad Ebrahim in Camp Aguinaldo in November 2018

After graduating at the Philippine Military Academy in 1985,[8] then-Lieutenant Galvez, along with then-Lieutenant Rolando Joselito Bautista and other AFP troops became a part of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), under the leadership then-Colonel Gregorio Honasan, and participated in the failed coup attempt against President Corazon Aquino. Galvez and his coup co-conspirators were detained before being granted amnesty in 1996 by Aquino's successor, President Fidel Ramos.[7] Throughout the 1990s, he spent most of his career in Mindanao, particularly in the islands of Basilan and Sulu, and commanded multiple units and commands in the Philippine Army and the AFP, including the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, where his unit was named the "best scout ranger battalion" in 2 consecutive years (2000 and 2001) and the Task Group Panther Bravo of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment.[9]

General Galvez also served as commander of the 104th Brigade, and became the deputy chief of staff for operations, organization & training, J3. Galvez also made successful efforts on the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2015 as co-chairman on the Government of the Philippines Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-CCCH), and afterwards, commanded the 6th Infantry Division.[8] Galvez also led units during the Zamboanga City crisis, where he commanded infantry units and launched defense operations within the city of Lamitan in Basilan, after the city's surroundings were occupied from an attack of the Abu Sayyaf group and its allies. Galvez's units successfully defended the city from the terrorists in the aftermath of the group's two-day offensive from September 12 to 14, 2013.[6]

Commander, AFP Western Mindanao Command

In January 2017, then-Lieutenant General Galvez began his tenure as the commander of the commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command. During his term as the region's top commander, Galvez expanded his peace operations within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Galvez became more known for his leadership throughout the campaign to liberate the city the Battle of Marawi, where he launched an all-out offensive to retake the city from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups, while secure the city's outskirt regions to prevent any terrorist reinforcements re-entering the city, and implemented safe zones with the assistance of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.[10][11]

In the aftermath of the Marawi Siege, Galvez also led numerous combat and neutralization operations against communists and Daesh-inspired groups, including Ben Salina Sapilin, a relative of Isnilon Hapilon,[12] and intercepted numerous movements of terrorist groups, including piracy, in the region.[6] Through his efforts on his diplomatic mentoring strategy in Western Mindanao, a total of 1,343 loose firearms were surrendered and recovered by the region's Joint Task Forces.[6]

AFP Chief of Staff

Portrait of Gen. Galvez during his stint as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from April 18, 2018 to December 11, 2018

Six months after the siege, Galvez was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on April 18, 2018. As AFP Chief, he focused on ending the decades-long communist insurgency, while addressing the threat of terrorism and extremism, particularly in Mindanao. General Galvez also expanded his peace initiatives throughout the country, which led to the surrender of members of various communist fronts and terrorist groups, while providing assistance to law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality elements. Galvez also spearheaded the AFP modernization program, where he implemented shifts on the program as part of the lessons from the Marawi Siege, such as the procurement of high-caliber weapons for internal and external defense, and initiated updated doctrines on enhancing urban warfare and human rights. Galvez also led in promoting transparency and good governance within the AFP organization. Galvez ended his term as AFP Chief on December 11, 2018, where he was succeeded by his classmate, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.[8][6][13]

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

On December 12, 2018, Galvez was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process after the previous officeholder, Jesus Dureza, resigned amid a corruption scandal. He is a staunch advocate of the peace process with the Moro Front, and has been well received by many Bangsamoro stakeholders.[14]

After President Duterte's term ended, Galvez remained presidential adviser under a "holdover capacity" until President Bongbong Marcos either appoints a new official or reappoints him to the post.[15]

After his time as officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense, Galvez was reappointed by Marcos as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on June 26, 2023.[16]

National Defense Senior Undersecretary

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meeting Galvez in Manila on February 2, 2023.

On January 9, 2023, Galvez accepted the appointment as senior undersecretary and officer-in-charge of Department of National Defense by President Bongbong Marcos.[17][18] His time as officer-in-charge ended on June 5 upon the appointment of Gilbert Teodoro as Secretary of National Defense.[19]

Awards

Secretary Galvez, National Policy Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, receives the CoronaVac vaccine at the UP-PGH in Manila in March 2021.

Left Side:

Philippine Legion of Honor
Philippine Legion of HonorDistinguished Service StarGold Cross (Philippines)
Order of Lapu-Lapu, Kamagi MedalBronze Cross Medal
Military Commendation Medal
Wounded Personnel MedalMilitary Civic Action Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Anti-Dissidence Campaign MedalLuzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign MedalVisayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon
1st row Chief Commander, Philippine Legion of Honor
2nd row Officer, Philippine Legion of Honor 3 Distinguished Service Stars with two bronze anahaw clusters 5 Gold Cross medals with four bronze anahaw clusters
3rd row Order of Lapu-Lapu, Kamagi Medal 2 Outstanding Achievement Medal with one bronze anahaw cluster 6 Bronze Cross Medal with three bronze anahaw clusters
4th row Military Merit Medals with three bronze anahaws (30 overall military merit medals) Military Merit Medals with one spearhead device (30 overall military merit medals) 12 Military Commendation Medals with three triangle clasps
5th row Wounded Personnel Medal 2 Military Civic Action Medals Long Service Medal with two campaign stars
6th row 2 Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medals Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
7th row Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal with two campaign stars Jolo and Sulu Campaign Medal with one campaign star Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon

Right Side:

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Martial Law Unit CitationPeople Power I Unit CitationPeople Power II Unit Citation
1st row Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
2nd row Martial Law Unit Citation People Power I Unit Citation People Power II Unit Citation

Badges and Other Awards:

Personal life

Galvez is married to Marissa M. Pascua, an international flight purser of Philippine Airlines; they have a daughter, Mary Frances Therese.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Gotinga, JC (March 27, 2020). "Peace process chief Galvez is 'chief implementer' of gov't policy vs coronavirus". Rappler. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  2. ↑ Parrocha, Azer (November 2, 2020). "Galvez appointed vaccine czar". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  3. ↑ Sadongdong, Martin (May 22, 2022). "Vaccine czar Galvez tests positive for Covid-19". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ "CA confirms Carlito Galvez Jr as AFP chief". Rappler. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Not yet time to lift Mindanao martial law —AFP's Galvez". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "CURRICULUM VITAE" (PDF). The Rotary Club of Manila.
  7. 1 2 "Little-known fact: AFP chief Galvez got amnesty for 1989 failed coup". RAPPLER. September 6, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 Bondoc, Marlly Rome (April 6, 2018). "Who is Carlito Galvez, the AFP's next chief?". GMA News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Secretary". Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Duterte, MILF create 'peace corridor' in Marawi".
  11. ↑ Farolan, Ramon J. (January 25, 2021). "One question for Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr". INQUIRER.net.
  12. ↑ Falcatan, Richard. "Hapilon's kin, 2 more Abu Sayyaf members surrender in Basilan". Rappler. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Carreon, Frencie (August 22, 2018). "General Galvez apologizes for suffering during Marcos martial law regime". MindaNews.
  14. ↑ Kabiling, Genalyn (December 5, 2018). "Duterte appoints Galvez as next peace adviser". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  15. ↑ Arguillas, Carolyn (July 9, 2022). "Galvez is still Peace Adviser; vows Marcos committed to peace process, especially in Bangsamoro". MindaNews. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (June 26, 2023). "Carlito Galvez Jr. returns as presidential peace adviser". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Galvez accepts appointment as Defense secretary". CNN Philippines. January 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Galvez confirms DND appointment is as OIC, senior undersecretary". CNN Philippines. January 23, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ Aning, Jerome (June 5, 2023). "After months of caretakers, Marcos names health and defense chiefs". Inquirer.net. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Who is Carlito Galvez Jr, the next Philippine military chief?".
  21. ↑ "AFP Chief receives Gawad Dangal ng Lipi from Province of Bulacan". Armed Forces of the Philippines. December 18, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  22. ↑ Santiago, Alvin (April 6, 2018). "Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez Jr". DWDD Radio. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
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