The Armed Forces of the Philippines said that Major General Carlito Galvez Jr. was appointed as the new chief of the Western Mindanao Command as part of efforts to destroy the Abu Sayyaf Group and other lawless elements within six months.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said that reliefs and designations are part of the dynamics of the military institution and Tuesday’s appointment of Galvez is its manifestation.
“The AFP Chief of Staff has ordered the total decimation of the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group and other terrorist groups within six months adhering to the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief and President Rodrigo Duterte,” Arevalo said.
“To achieve this difficult task, necessary adjustments in tactics and strategy, and in the approaches to neutralize the ASG – including changes in the leadership and composition of the team that will execute his plans – will have to be made. And this is part of the dynamism of the military profession,” he added.
Galvez has command of the WesMinCom, replacing Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz, who had served the unit for a year and two months.
Dela Cruz, according to Arevalo, has been appointed as the new Inspector General of the AFP.
“Lt. Gen. De la Cruz was accorded by the AFP leadership an opportunity to assume a sensitive position at the when he subsequently takes over as The Inspector General AFP,” Arevalo said.
“Lt. Gen. de la Cruz expressed his appreciation to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo G. Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and the AFP leadership for the privilege to have served as commander of one of the AFP’s “critical units” and commanded to his successor Maj. Gen. Galvez the soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines who are “the best in the AFP,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo said Año referred to De la Cruz as a dedicated and passionate officer who has a strong desire to make things better.
“He described Maj. Gen. Galvez as experienced, trained, and the most fit to assume command of the unit that is impressed with the task of neutralizing the ASG and other terrorist groups in Western Mindanao,” Arevalo said.
(FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD)