Galvez thanks PBBM for chance to lead DND

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 6, 2023): Galvez thanks PBBM for chance to lead DND (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Outgoing DND officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (File photo)

MANILA – Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for giving him the opportunity to lead the agency even just for a few months.

This came after Marcos named lawyer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. as the country's new Defense Secretary on Monday.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., for entrusting me to lead the Department over the last few months. I also thank the entire One Defense Team, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and our civilian bureaus, for their support during my tenure as the officer-in-charge of the Department," Galvez said.

Galvez was named DND officer-in-charge last Jan. 9 following the resignation of his predecessor, retired AFP chief Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. earlier that month.

Galvez is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985 and served as the 50th AFP chief from April 18 to December 11, 2018.

"The DND welcomes the appointment of Atty. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. as the new Secretary of National Defense," Galvez said.

Teodoro also served as DND chief from August 2007 to November 2009 in the administration of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was also the former congressman of Tarlac (1st District).

Teodoro also served as the chairperson of the National Disaster Coordinating Council during his tenure as DND chief. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, majoring in Financial Institutions from the De La Salle University-Manila.

Teodoro completed his law degree, graduated at the top of his class at the University of the Philippines, and was the topnotcher in the 1989 Philippine Bar Examinations.

Teodoro also has a Master's Degree in Law from Harvard University and is a licensed commercial pilot.

He was recognized as a Leadership Awardee and Seminar Academic Excellence Awardee during his time at the Air Command and Staff College, Air Education and Training Command Philippine Air Force Command and Staff Course in 2001.

In 2003, he attended the Joint and Combined Staff Officers Course, Class No. 1, JCSC in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City where he was honored as a Leadership Awardee.

"We have achieved great strides in our priority programs on internal security, territorial defense, disaster preparedness, and the continued development of the defense organization. Rest assured that the DND has my unequivocal support as we all work together in the pursuit of our vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Philippines," Galvez added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202932