Army general assumes post as gov't CCCH chief

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Brig. Gen. Carlito Galvez on Monday assumed as new chairman of the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities  (CCCH) which helps in the enforcement of the July 1997 interim truce between the GPH and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Galvez took over the post from Brig. Gen. Edmund Pangilinan, who has been installed as commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division. Pangilinan had served as chairman of the government’s ceasefire committee prior to his assumption as 6th ID's commanding general two months ago.

Galvez graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1985.

The symbolic turnover of the CCCH chairmanship by Pangilinan to Galvez was held at Camp Siongco in Maguindanao’s Datu Odin Sinsuat town on Monday afternoon, in the presence of representatives of different local and foreign organizations helping push the government-MILF peace efforts forward.

Pangilinan, also a graduate of PMA, was concurrent government CCCH chairman and deputy commander for the peace process of the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City before he took over the 6th ID’s leadership from Major Gen. Romeo Gapuz, now retired.

Galvez said he will emulate the good examples of Pangilinan and all other CCCH chairmen that had served before him.

Also present at Camp Siongco during the arrival honors for Galvez was the division’s former assistant commander, Major Gen. Ariel Bernardo, who had also acted as CCCH chairman.

Bernardo, now outgoing commander of the 10th Infantry Division based in Compostela Valley, thanked the 6th ID’s rank-and-file personnel, during a traditional “talk to the men” message for supporting his peace efforts while he was their assistant division commander and CCCH chairman for about two years.

The government and the MILF’s respective ceasefire committees are helping each other maintain law and order, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in flashpoint areas in the south that are covered by the ceasefire accord.

Galvez, who will hold office in Zamboanga City, was commander of an Army brigade in Basilan, before his designation as new CCCH chairman.

The MILF has several camps in Basilan, mostly scattered in the adjoining towns of Al-Barka, Sumisip and Tipo-Tipo in the eastern part of the island province.