Dateline Kamuning:   Defense Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a ‘productive’ and ‘meaningful’ meeting during the latter’s official visit at the Department of National Defense on Thursday. “The visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III here in the Philippines signifies a strong bond and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States, particularly in the areas of humanitarian assistance, economic development, and peace and security among others,” said Galvez. Accelerating implementation of EDCA The Defense Chiefs reiterated the commitment of the Philippines and the US to collaborate and accelerate the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). They announced the agreement to designate four (4) new Agreed Locations under EDCA in strategic areas of the country. According to Austin, the meeting included discussions on how Philippine and US forces can operate toget...

Dateline Kamuning:     The Department of National Defense congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its excellent public satisfaction rating for 2022, as reported by the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey. "On behalf of the entire One Defense Team, I proudly and warmly congratulate our Armed Forces for once again garnering the unequivocal support of the Filipino people with their performance," Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said.     In the December 2022 survey of the SWS, the AFP achieved an "excellent +76" net score for its performance, an increase of nine (9) points from the net of +67 in December 2021. Conducted with 1,200 adult respondents, the SWS survey also showed the AFP maintaining high confidence scores in addressing internal and external threats to the country's peace and stability. "Amid the complex challenges to our national security, the AFP continues to rise to the occasion and serve the people with integ...

Dateline Kamuning:   Newly appointed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. called on the agency’s officials to rally behind President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for unity and keep the "One Defense" team intact. Galvez made the call during a transition briefing at the DND main office in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday. “We will sustain the gains of the past Secretaries and will also further enhance the capability of our national defense,” he said in a statement Wednesday.  He also emphasized the importance of employee morale in the DND and professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in maintaining the trust and confidence of the Filipino people. During the briefing, Galvez was presented with a formal report highlighting the department's plans, as well as the 10-point agenda initiated by outgoing officer-in-charge (OIC) Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. Galvez also met with senior officials and heads of bureaus and h...

Dateline Kamuning:   President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has named Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the new secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), Malacañang announced Monday.   In a press statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) officer in charge (OIC) Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil announced that Galvez was named DND chief after the President accepted the resignation of Jose Faustino Jr. The PCO also shared two photos of Marcos and Galvez having a chat and shaking hands. “It is with deep regret that the President has accepted the resignation of DND OIC Sr. Usec. Jose Faustino Jr. The President has offered the position of DND Secretary to Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and he has accepted,” Garafil said. She did not give any reason for Faustino’s resignation. Galvez is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1985. (...

    Dateline Kamuning:   The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Sunday said it is hopeful that the death of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison will put an end to the local communist insurgency which has largely stalled development in the countryside. "With the death of Mr. Sison, it is our hope that it will also put an end to the local communist armed conflict that claimed the lives of so many Filipinos and pushed back development in the countryside," OPAPRU chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement Sunday.     He also noted that the passing of Sison marks “the end of an era in the nation's history.” With President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s banner of unity, Galvez said the government shall vigorously carry out interventions to sustain and build on the gains the government has achieved under the peace process. The CPP earlier said the Netherlands-based Sison died a...