Decorated general assumes office as gov’t ceasefire chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 26): Decorated general assumes office as gov’t ceasefire chief

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, MAGUINDANAO -- “I accept the challenge, your guidance and also your advice in pursuing the gains of the more than 14 years of legacy of the CCCH [Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities] for serving lasting peace for Mindanao,” Brigadier General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. told his predecessor Brigadier General Edmundo Pangilinan.

Galvez assumed last Monday the chairmanship of the government ceasefire mechanism. Pangilinan is now the commanding general of the 6th Infantry Kampilan Division based in Awang, Datu Odin Sinusat, Maguindanao.

In a simple ceremony witnessed by counterparts from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a contingent from the International Monitoring Team (IMT)-M9 headed by its Head of Mission Major Gen Dato’ Abd Samad Bin Hj Yaakub, military officials and nongovernment organizations, Pangilinan officially turned-over the reins of the Government of the Philippines (Government of the Philippines)-CCCH to Galvez.

“I will see myself now doing a very critical job of preserving peace,” Galvez said during the turnover rites.

Galvez served as Battalion Commander of the AFP’s 1st Scout Ranger Battalion in Basilan and Sulu and managed his unit to become the best battalion for two consecutive years. At the age of 47, he became the country's youngest brigade commander when he was appointed commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade in Basilan.

He has been awarded four Gold Cross medals, the Distinguished Service Star (the third highest military award of the AFP), and other military merit medals. Galvez also holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management, which he earned from the University of South Wales in Australia.

Created in 2003, the CCCH is mandated to monitor the implementation of the GPH-MILF Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and settle complaints on ceasefire violations to contain and prevent conflicts from escalating.

‎It is one of the ceasefire mechanisms established under the GPH - MILF‎ peace negotiations which has contributed to the success of the peace process. Since 2012, the CCCH has reported zero skirmishes between government and MILF forces.

The new CCCH chairman challenged his partners and counterparts from the MILF to “really expand our tasks not only to have a ceasefire mechanism that works, but to explore things proactively to prevent hostilities.”

“We can bring peace to Mindanao," Galvez said. "From now on we will have a progressive Mindanao because we will work together for lasting peace,” Galvez said.

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