MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, May 30, confirmed the appointment of Carlito Galvez Jr as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff.

CA committee on national defense and Cavite 5th District Representative Roy Loyola sponsored the confirmation of Galvez’s promotion to the rank of general. This was seconded by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Loyola and Zubiri both lauded Galvez’s professionalism and qualifications.

“No other man understands the armed struggle than the subject appointee. General Galvez was at the forefront of the war… and led the successful liberation of Marawi,” Zubiri said.

Galvez served as commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) based in Zamboaga City, the military command mainly responsible for areas addressing threats from local armed groups in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Galvez graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), part of the Sandiwa Class of 1985. He received higher education in Australia as well as military and management trainings abroad, including at Harvard University in the United States.

The bemedalled officer was also a recipient of the United States Eisenhower Fellowships in 2006.

Galvez is set to retire in December.

Aside from Galvez, the CA also confirmed the promotions of the following:

• Nelson Collantes, to the rank of brigadier general (Reserve)
• Emmanuel Mahipus, to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force (Reserve)
• Rolando Rodil, to the rank of brigadier general
• Joselito Maclan, to the rank of brigadier general 

– Rappler.com