MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. has resigned from his post, Malacañang confirmed on Monday.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil said in a social media post that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted Faustino's resignation.

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Carlito Galvez Jr. will be replacing Faustino as defense chief after he accepted Marcos Jr.'s offer, Garafil added.

In an official statement, Faustino said that he had tendered his resignation last Friday, Jan. 6, after learning "only from news and social media reports" that Gen. Andres Centino returned as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

• Marcos appoints Centino as new AFP chief

"Fully cognizant of the selfless sacrifice and courage of our troops and civilian human resources, I cannot allow the AFP’s reputation to be tarnished, maligned, or politicized," he said, without going into further details.

He added that he would still hold the AFP in "high esteem, which its men and women have painstakingly earned."

"I wish nothing but the best for our country, our people, and our President. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to serve the Filipino people in my former capacity as officer-in-charge of the DND."

"With all humility, I am grateful and deeply indebted to each and every one of you who helped us fulfill our mandate in the Defense Department over these past months," Faustino said.

Faustino's exit came amid rumors of an alleged destabilization plot against the Marcos Jr. administration, which had been denied by both the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

• AFP spox: No destabilization plot vs Marcos admin
• PNP probes fake memo on destabilization plot

Faustino himself had also headed the AFP before he was appointed by Marcos Jr. to the defense portfolio last July, immediately after assuming the presidency.

He had then vowed to ensure a "smooth implementation" of the military's modernization program.

• Ex-AFP chief Faustino formally takes over top DND post

Galvez, on the other hand, is a retired general of the Philippine Army who also served as AFP chief of staff during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aside from being the presidential peace adviser, he was also the vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

REACTIONS

For its part, the DND said it welcomes Galvez' appointment as its new secretary.

"With Sec. Galvez's years of experience as a military commander and as a civilian public servant, we are confident that he will be able to effectively lead the Department as we fulfill our mandates to the nation," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Monday.

Andolong also thanked Faustino for his time as defense chief, and wished him "the best in his endeavors in the next chapter of his life."

Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who was the chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense and security in the 18th congress, meanwhile described Galvez's appointment as a "good choice."

"Gen. Galvez can provide the leadership that the defense establishment needs especially during the transition period of the implementation of the law on fixed term of generals holding key positions in the AFP," the ex-lawmaker said.