Secretary’s Corner

Sec. Carlito G. Galvez officially assumed the post of Presidential Peace Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity on when he was sworn in by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 28, 2018 at the Malacañang Palace. Upon his assumption to office, he led the campaign for the plebiscite and eventual ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). He is currently heading the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

As Peace Chief, he is committed to fulfil the remaining commitments under peace agreements with different rebel groups such as Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas / Revolutionary Proletariat Army/Alex Bongcayao Brigade, and Cordillera Bodong Administration/Cordillera People’s Liberation Army.

Secretary Galvez also focuses on the implemention and operationalization of the Executive Order No. 70 signed by President Duterte on December 4, 2018. The EO 70, or the “National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict” aims to attain peace and end local communist insurgency in the country through a whole-of-nation approach.

Sec. Galvez is a retired four-star general and was the 50^thChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before he was named as presidential peace adviser. Under his command was the 145,000 strong men and women of the AFP whose primary mission is to protect the Filipino people against internal threats and external threats and preserve the territorial integrity of the country.

During his tenure as chief of staff, Sec. Galvez’ efforts focused on decisively ending the decades-long communist insurgency; addressing the threat of terrorism and violent extremism; providing support to law enforcement agencies in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality; and promoting transparency and good governance within the organization.

Despite being a military man, Sec. Galvez’ walked the path of peace. The initiatives that were carried out under his leadership were all anchored on the peace process and designed to help pave the way for a final and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in Mindanao. Specifically, he strengthened the peace mechanisms at the Unified Command in order to effectively address the grievances of the people and bring long-lasting peace in the island-region.  

Sec. Galvez is best remembered as commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) wherein he led the AFP in liberating the city of Marawi from the hands of the Maute-ASG-ISIS terror group.  In his more than 34 years of military service, his time was mostly spent in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, particularly in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu.

Aside from his stint as WestMinCom Commander, Sec. Galvez also headed the 6^thInfanty “Kampilan” Division of the Philippine Army, 104th Brigade of the 1^stInfantry Division, 1^stScout Ranger Battalion and the Task Group Panther Bravo of the First Scout Ranger Regiment.

Moreover, Sec. Galvez held the key positions of Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3; Chairman of the Government of the Philippines Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-CCCH); and Deputy Commander for Peace Process of the Western Mindanao Command. 

Sec. Galvez was also a recipient of the prestigious United States Eisenhower Fellowships in 2006. In 2007, he was awarded as one of “The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) by the MetroBank Foundation, Inc. and Rotary Club of Makati Metro. As Commander of the First Scout Ranger Battalion, his unit was adjudged as the Best Scout Ranger Battalion for two consecutive years (2000 and 2001).

Other awards received by Sec. Galvez include two Philippine Legion of Honor Awards, three Distinguished Service Stars, two Outstanding Achievement Medals, six Gold Cross Medals, eight Bronze Cross Medals, and 40 Military Merit and Commendation Medals, Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) “Salamat Po” Humanitarian Award and the Outstanding Citizen of Taguig Award.

Sec. Galvez is happily married to Marissa Pascua-Galvez, an International Flight Purser of Philippine Airlines. They are blessed with a daughter, Mary Frances Therese.