6th Infantry Division commander named Westmincom chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16): 6th Infantry Division commander named Westmincom chief

Major General Carlito Galvez Jr. barely warmed his seat as division commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division when he was designated by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Galvez, a known peace advocate who earned the respect of non-government organizations and political leaders in Central Mindanao, will soon leave the “Kampilan” division based here to lead a bigger military organization tasked to ensure security in the most troubled region.

On Tuesday, Galvez will replace Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz as Westmincom chief.
Dela Cruz was designated as the new Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Taking Galvez’s post at 6th ID is Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, a peace advocate and environmentalist too. For the officers and men of the 6th ID, Galvez was known as “peace advocate in and out.”

He is also set to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, a three star rank in the AFP.

Galvez told reporters he is heading to a bigger task with bigger challenges, especially with the directive of the President to crush the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group, contain kidnapping, piracy and the Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Westmincom covers half of Mindanao, specifically from Lanao Sur to Sultan Kudarat and from Zamboanga del Norte to Tawi-Tawi. Eastmincom covers the other half of the island.

Who is Gen. Galvez?

In its website, the Philippine Army said Gen. Galvez was the Battalion Commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion which was engaged in a series of bloody gun battles with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Basilan and Sulu from 2000-2002.

Under his leadership, the unit was adjudged as the Best Scout Ranger Battalion for two consecutive years.

The unit is known for having three Medal for Valor awardees and five awardees of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers coming from its ranks.

Galvez earned his first Gold Cross award and Wounded Personnel Medal as a junior officer, while fighting communist bandits in Davao in mid 1980s. He is also a fellow of Eisenhower Fellowships, USA.
 
He attended courses at the Asian Institute of Management and Harvard University. He is a member of PMA ‘Sandiwa’ Class of 1985.

Having seen the ugly face of armed conflicts, Gen. Galvez is also a peace advocate. He once served as a chairperson of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) that monitors the GRP-MILF Peace Process.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955410