Galvez eyed for top Wesmincom post

From the Daily Tribune (Jan 14): Galvez eyed for top Wesmincom post

A well-rounded Army officer would be taking over the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) and lead the government’s all-out fight against various terrorist groups, particularly the Abu Sayyaf group.

Reliable military sources said that incumbent Army 6th Infantry Division (ID) commander Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez would be taking over Wesmincom from Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz.

A turn-over ceremony is scheduled at Wesmincom next week.

On the other hand, de la Cruz, the same sources said, would be assuming as inspector general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class of 1985, Galvez spent only four months as 6th ID commander before his promotion to the three-star position.

Prior to his assumption as 6th ID chief, Galvez served as AFP deputy chief of staff for operations (J3).

Galvez was the head of the government ceasefire committee when the Mamasapano “massacre” of 44 Special Action Force commandos happened in January 2015 when combined Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) overwhelmed the SAF.

“Passionate, hardworking, focused. If I am a commander, I would like him to be my chief of staff, operations officer. My do-it-all officer. He can do any task you give him,” a senior Army official said of Galvez.

Another officer described Galvez as “silent worker that produces results.”

“He is a peace-oriented Army field officer,” another source said.

As Wesmincom commander, Galvez will have about 20,000 troops at his disposal to defeat the Abu Sayyaf within six months as directed by AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año — reiterating President Duterte’s order to destroy the terrorists.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the AFP leadership will be putting new people in Mindanao to pursue President Duterte’s instruction to defeat the Abu Sayyaf.

“We will be putting new people so that we can have fresh approach in addressing lawless elements,” Lorenzana said.

Relatedly, Rear Adm. Narciso Vingson last Thursday assumed as AFP’s No. 3 man as the deputy chief of staff.

Vingson succeeded Lt. Gen. Salvador Melchor Mison Jr. who was promoted as AFP vice chief of staff.

Also of PMA “Sandiwa” Class of 1985, Vingson is the concurrent AFP inspector general.

Vingson previously served as commander of the Naval Education and Training Command and deputy commander of the Philippine Fleet.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/galvez-eyed-for-top-wesmincom-post