End insurgency, terrorism Marcos tells new Army chief

MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he expects new Army chief, Lt. General Roy Galido, to guide the organization in ending communist insurgency and terrorism threats, as well as addressing the lingering and emerging threats to national security.

Marcos ordered Galido to work on building an agile, adaptable, competitive and world-class army.

 “I look forward to working with you further and I am confident that you will guide the Army to reach more milestones in our campaign to end in our country the insurgency and [terrorism] threat, as well as to address the lingering and emerging threats to our national security,” the President told Galido.

“We challenge you to lead and boost your institution’s engagements with its foreign counterparts. I urge the entirety of our Army to enhance your interoperability and communications, as well as to learn best practices through training and joint exercises, which we intend to further expand.”

The President, a former member of the Army’s Scout Ranger, also said he looks forward to hearing Galido’s plans to protect the country’s sovereignty and to transform the Army into a world-class military force and continue to be a source of the nation’s security, and peace and pride.

Marcos, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, also made an assurance that his administration is committed to supporting the troops by modernizing the Army as well as the rest of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Hand-in-hand, we will work together to heighten the internal and external security of the Philippines to create a more conducive environment for the comprehensive growth and empowerment of our people,” he said.

Marcos said he is confident that “we can rightfully achieve this in no time at all.”

Galido was the former commander of Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City from January to July 2023, and also served as the commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division from August 2022 to January 2023. He is a member of Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1990.

Marcos also congratulated then Army commanding general, and now AFP chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. for completing his tour of duty and developing the Army into the progressive and resilient force that it is today.

Under Brawner’s leadership, the country has established a firm defense against insurgency and terrorism by dismantling guerrilla fronts and intensifying peace-building efforts. (Mindanao Examiner)