DAVAO CITY –— Eastern Mindanao Commander Major General Jose Faustino Jr., has been named as the next Philippine Army Chief.
Malacañang on Friday, February 12, confirmed the appointment of Faustino Jr. as the new acting commanding general of the Philippines Army.
Faustino replaces Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, who was appointed as the 8th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Faustino has been based in Davao City as Eastmincom commnader and has rose from the rank.
He served as commander of the 10th Infantry Division based in Davao de Oro. He had also served as chief of the 11th Intelligence Service Unit in Davao City.
Faustino also led troops in Sulu when he was commander of the 35th Infantry Battalion and the 501st Infantry Brigade.
AFP chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana lauded the appointment of Faustino Jr. who has as the new acting commander of the Philippines Army.
“Well (he served in) Sulu and now he is the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) commander so as far as the experience is concerned mataas ang (he has a high) level of expertise niya sa peace and security efforts,” Sobejana told reporters on Friday.
Faustino has been instrument in the successful implementation of the government’s program to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) in Eastern Mindanao.
A silent but sharp officer who always considered every local government unit as partners for development.
Faustino is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Maringal Class of 1988.
