Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Department of National Defense (DND), administered the ceremonial oath-taking in Camp Aguinaldo for the chairpersons and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Selection Board for 2023.
During the ceremony, the OIC, DND was joined by MGen Arthur M Cordura, AFP Vice Chief of Staff, and BGen Rommel P Roldan PAF, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Officials from the DND and AFP likewise witnessed the event.
“I am honored to have administered the oath of the various AFP Selection Board members for the calendar year 2023,” Galvez said during his keynote message.
The various Boards of the Major Services and the Technical and Administrative Services oversee and implement the AFP’s Officer Promotion System. They are among the military’s main screening bodies that perform the tedious and meticulous task of enforcing meritocracy under the principles of merit, fitness, character, honor, and integrity.
Galvez congratulated and shared his full trust and confidence in the AFP’s new officers and members’ integrity, expertise, and experience in choosing the best and most deserving leaders of the military organization.
“Throughout history, the AFP has proven itself as a reliable force in upholding the nation’s sovereignty, defending the constitution, and safeguarding the democratic ideals of our people and institutions,” the Defense Chief said.
“The members of AFP selection boards, it is you who bear one of the yokes to keep the tradition alive by selecting competent leaders. This lofty task makes you the vanguard of the AFP’s leadership,” Galvez added.
In keeping with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s guidance to promote professionalism in the AFP, Galvez told the new members of the selection boards that the AFP has no room for self-acclaimed leaders who are intelligent but lacking in wisdom and character.
“Remove from your shortlist those who engage in influence-peddling or padrino system; or those who use the good name of their offices for personal gains, especially those who have the record and propensity to abuse authority. We need to select only those whose competence, character and integrity are unblemished,” he said.
“Maintain our Armed Forces clean, competent and relevant at all times,” Galvez concluded. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
