Carlito Galvez bids AFP personnel goodbye

MANILA, Philippines — Retiring Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. bade farewell to military officials and personnel during flag-raising rites at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

Galvez will retire from the military service tomorrow.

“As I near retirement, I was able to breathe and say ‘kaya pala natin.’ I could not be any happier and more content than I am now – that we are able to accomplish our goals,” he said.“All of these would not be possible without your help and support.”

Galvez, who served as AFP chief for eight months, thanked and congratulated every soldier, airman, sailor, Marine and civilian employee of the military for a job well done.

“I may never thank you enough for all the hard work and patience, but I did try my best with the programs and policies that would boost the morale of our personnel,” he said.

 Galvez, along with his wife Marissa and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, led the “Panunumpa sa Karapatang Pantao” during the flag-raising ceremony.

After the pledge, Galvez gave commendation medals to Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence; Maj. Gen. Isidro Purisima, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and Brig. Gen. Ser-Me Ayuyao, Judge Advocate General, for the exceptional performance of their duties.