Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12)— Defense Secretary-designate Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday dismissed reports of supposed “unrest” in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but said there are some “valid issues” currently being sorted out.
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“There is no truth (to) the unrest. Maybe, meron tayo tinatawag na [we have what we call] some valid issues, but we are resolving it now,” Galvez said in a media briefing with returning AFP chief Andres Centino.
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Galvez, in particular, noted the delay in the promotion of officials.
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He vowed that the agency will work on expediting the process, adding that he has spoken to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the matter.
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“So ang ano namin ngayon [what we’re doing now] is to fast-track some remaining promotions and also the deployments, assignments of the different commanders,” Galvez said.
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Over the past week, rumors of an alleged destabilization plot in the military popped up amid the sudden change in its leadership. Both the AFP and the Philippine National Police, however, denied this.
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Centino, for his part, stressed that such appointments lie on the hands of the chief executive. He added: “As soldiers, we just have to abide.”
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READ: Ex-Defense OIC Faustino says he resigned after AFP chief Centino’s surprise appointment
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