Carlito Galvez Jr. returns as presidential peace adviser
MANILA, Philippines — Carlito Galvez Jr., a retired military general and former officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense, has been named peace adviser to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Marcos appointed Galvez as the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity — the post he held during the administration of Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Galvez replaced Isidro Purisima, who served as the acting peace adviser. Marcos designated Purisima as a senior undersecretary at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
Galvez served as the officer-in-charge of the defense department until Marcos appointed lawyer and mining executive Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as the agency’s chief in June.
Galvez under Duterte: Peace adviser, vaccine czar
During his stint as Duterte’s peace adviser, Galvez led the campaign for the plebiscite and eventual ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
He also implemented the executive order that created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which has accused human rights groups, journalists and government critics of being communist sympathizers. Such red-tagging poses grave dangers, resulting in harassment, threats and even killings.
During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, he served as the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19. He was also in charge of the previous administration’s effort to procure COVID-19 vaccines.
Before his appointment as peace adviser, Galvez was chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He also led the Western Mindanao Command, which covers Marawi City—the scene of intense five-month fighting between government forces and Islamic State-inspired Maute group in 2017.
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