Galvez out; former interior chief Sarmiento is Marcos’ new peace adviser

MANILA, Philippines — Carlito Galvez Jr. is out as presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity, Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday, April 21.

Former interior secretary and current Galing Pook chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento is set to replace Galvez. His appointment is expected to be announced formally during the Palace’s Tuesday press briefing. 

Galvez, a former military chief, has headed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) since 2018, during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. He remained in the post temporarily when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in June 2022 before being formally reappointed in June 2023.

Between staying on temporarily and then being reappointed as OPAPRU head, Galvez was selected as defense secretary before being relegated to officer-in-charge of the defense department. 

New peace adviser 

Sarimento is no stranger to government service. 

He served as interior secretary under the late president Benigno Aquino III, replacing Mar Roxas after the latter announced his plans to run for president in the 2016 elections and resigned.

Prior to serving in the Aquino Cabinet, Sarmiento was a stalwart of the once-ruling Liberal Party and Western Samar representative in the House. 

Sarmiento’s appointment is only the second key change in the Marcos Cabinet. The week prior, Malacañang announced that Eduardo Año was stepping down as national security adviser. He was replaced by Eduardo Oban Jr., another former military chief. 

Like Oban, Sarmiento was far from Marcos’ orbit, particularly in 2022. Sarmiento had endorsed former vice president Leni Robredo, Marcos’ rival, in the 2022 presidential elections. 

Sarmiento has stayed out of politics for the most part since 2016 but has continued work, mostly in the context of local government. Prior to his appointment as OPAPRU chief, he was chairperson of Gawad Pook, an organization that focuses on the development of local governments in the country.

The OPAPRU has been criticized for the slow implementation of the normalization track of the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

According to reports and Rappler’s interviews, former combatants had yet to receive the socio-economic packages that would have helped them transition to civilian life.

Back in 2021, Galvez clarified that combatants were not slated to receive P1 million in cash assistance. Until now, some combatants are still expecting this promise.

In a recent report, the International Crisis Group said Galvez was “reportedly a key force” behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unilateral decision to replace then interim chief minister Murad Ebrahim and appoint Abdulraof Macacua. The Palace’s intervention allegedly endangered the gains of the peace process, spurring growing cracks among the former rebels. – with reports from Iya Gozum/Rappler.com