Galvez wants ‘almost 2-year term’ for AFP chief

FILE: AFP Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez (Photo: PTV)

MANILA — Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. is hoping that the tenure for the military’s highest position will be set for “almost two years” to ensure continuity in their programs and reforms.

“(We are hoping that) a tenure of almost two years for (AFP) chief-of-staff (will be set so that) magkaroon talaga ng continuity, that is what we are asking. Magkaroon sana ng ganoong (That we have such) tenure (the AFP chief-of-staff), to (plan and see into fruition) the reforms that we can make for two years,” Galvez said.

He also expressed confidence that the AFP can defeat all security threats within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I’m very, very confident that we can finish all the conflicts in two to three years’ time, with the kind of President that we have, a very supportive President, we are very confident that we can finish all threats in his time,” Galvez added.

The outgoing AFP chief is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985 and will step down on Dec. 12 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Galvez also said he is very fulfilled with his 30 years of military service, especially during his term as AFP chief.

“I’m very fulfilled kasi yung lahat ng gusto kong mangyari sa (everything that I wanted to happen for the) Armed Forces, with the help of our superiors, yung mga predecessors ko (my predecessors), we were able to instill discipline and tinatawag nating (what we call) institutional reforms. As of now, the Armed Forces have enjoyed good image wherein our legitimacy and our purpose of serving the people and the state has been recognized by the Filipino people,” he said.

Galvez added he wants troops to remember him as the AFP chief who helped make the military’s financial institution very strong and imbued an integrity program aside from helping weed out corruption in the institution.