New DND spokesman assumes post

MANILA, Philippines - A medical practitioner is the new spokesman for the Department of National Defense (DND), replacing Zosimo Paredes, who resigned after occupying the post for only a month.

Peter Paul Galvez, chief of staff of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, yesterday urged the media to help him inform the public about key issues.

“We’re all in this together… Help me inform the public about what is happening. I enjoin everyone to help me so we can relay to them the issues,” Galvez told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Galvez admitted feeling the pressure as the new DND spokesman and that he was surprised that he was chosen for the position.

“For my part I will just do the job of a spokesperson,” he said.

When asked how he intends to improve the image of DND, Galvez said: “I guess we will let our actions speak for us.”

Galvez, who assumed the position last Nov. 28, is the fourth spokesperson for the department since Gazmin was appointed defense secretary.

The previous DND spokespersons were Undersecretary Eduardo Batac, Army Col. Hernando Iriberri, currently the senior military assistant of Gazmin, and Paredes.

Galvez is a general medical practitioner and holds a master’s degree in national security administration.

He obtained his master’s from the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) in 2009 and graduated at the top of his class. He was also a recipient of the NDCP gold medal for academic excellence.

“He (Galvez) is diligent, intelligent and has very mature views on issues,” Iriberri said when asked to describe the new spokesman.

As Gazmin’s chief of staff, Galvez was tasked to manage the documents that require the action of the defense secretary.

Last week, The STAR reported that Paredes resigned from his post after issuing a controversial statement that reportedly irritated Malacañang.

Paredes reportedly left his office without any explanation. He allegedly wrote a resignation letter but failed to talk to Gazmin, who was out of his office then.

In a media forum held last Nov. 18, Paredes said the declaration of a revolutionary government is one of the options of the government when national security is threatened.

The following day, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte clarified that Paredes’ view did not reflect the sentiments of the national leadership.

In an interview with radio dzBB last Saturday, Paredes said Gazmin had told him that if the President criticizes him for his statement, it would be a signal for him to quit.

Paredes’ statement on a revolutionary government was not the only one that stirred controversy. In October, Paredes said the Navy had apologized to China for accidentally ramming a Chinese vessel that was towing 25 smaller boats off Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in the West Philippine Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, however, said an apology was not issued. Navy officials also said they would not apologize for the incident because they were merely enforcing maritime laws.