Manila, Philippines — Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed a change in leadership at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday.
This follows President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s approval of the resignation of OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez, who served as the office’s secretary for nearly four years under the current administration.
Galvez previously served as the 50th AFP Chief of Staff in 2018 and was later appointed as the Vaccine Czar for the COVID-19 task force rollout in 2020. He also headed the Department of National Defense (DND) in early 2023 prior to the appointment of Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
In his retirement message, Galvez noted that after 46 years of service, he is stepping down to focus on his personal life. In a statement he said this decision is borne of a personal necessity to attend to the health of his wife, and to devote himself to his family—a commitment that is, perhaps, long overdue.
He expressed his gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve the nation and for extending his tenure to maintain peace under his leadership.
Galvez’s resignation comes just days after the retirement of National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who also served as DILG Secretary during the Duterte administration. Año has been replaced by former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban, who served during the term of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Oban took his oath of office at Malacañang on Monday, April 20, accompanied by his family.
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. has appointed Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new chief of (OPAPRU). Sarmiento represented the 1st District of Samar from 2010 to 2015 and served as DILG Secretary from 2015 to 2016, succeeding Mar Roxas when the latter stepped down to run for the presidency.