| Jose C. Faustino Jr. | |
|---|---|
| |
| Secretary of National Defense | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2022[lower-alpha 1] | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Delfin Lorenzana |
| 56th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
In office July 31, 2021 – November 12, 2021 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Gen. Cirilito Sobejana |
| Succeeded by | Gen. Andres Centino |
| 63rd Acting Commanding General of the Philippine Army | |
In office February 16, 2021 – May 14, 2021 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana |
| Succeeded by | Lt. Gen Andres Centino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 12, 1965 Itogon, Benguet, Philippines |
| Alma mater | Philippine Military Academy(BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines
|
| Service/branch |  Philippines Army
|
| Years of service | 1988–2021 |
| Rank |  General
|
| Commands | * Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
|
| Battles/wars | Moro conflict Communist rebellion in the Philippines |
General Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr. is a Filipino general officer who served as the 56th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before his mandatory retirement on November 12, 2021. Prior to his post, he served as the Commander of the Joint Task Force Mindanao, the acting-Commanding General of the Philippine Army, the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, and the 10th Infantry Division.[2]
Early life and education[]
General Faustino was born on November 12, 1965, at Itogon, Benguet, and grew up his childhood in Malolos, Bulacan. He is the son of a retired Army Colonel Jose Faustino Sr., and is the only son among 3 siblings. Faustino entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1984, before graduating in 1988 as a member of the PMA "Maringal" Class of 1988.[3]
After graduating at the PMA, he also entered and participated in various military, leadership and staff courses locally and abroad, such as the Scout Ranger Course, where he ranked top 2 of his class, and serves as a qualified member of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment and the Special Forces; the Basic Airborne Course; the Intelligence Officer Course; the Human Rights Advocacy Course; the Infantry Officer Basic and the Advance Infantry Officer Courses, where he graduated as part of the top ten completers of both courses; and the Senior Executive Course on National Security at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) in Camp Aguinaldo. General Faustino also completed the Command and General Staff Course in the Republic of Korea Army College in Yuseong-gu, South Korea, and the United Nations (UN) Integrated Mission Staff Officers Course in Canada.[4]
Military career[]
General Faustino is a seasoned Mindanao veteran, serving in special forces, infantry, intelligence and staff positions, where he is described as a "silent yet sharp" officer.[5] He served his junior days as a lieutenant at the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment, and became a company commander as he commanded the 7th Scout Ranger Company in 1992.[4] From then, he served as the Intelligence and Operations Officer of the Task Group Zamba, in the First Scout Ranger Regiment; the Assistant Chief of Staff for Comptrollership, G6 in the Intelligence and Security Group; the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, G2, 10th Infantry Division; the Deputy G2, Philippine Army; the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Intelligence, U2, NCR Command; and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training, G8, Philippine Army. He also served various academic posts in his alma-mater, the PMA, where he was named as the Administration and Tactical Officer of the Headquarters Tactics Group, as the Head of Tactics Group, and as the Commandant of Cadets. [4] He also served as the Commandant of Scout Ranger Training School in Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan, and as the commander of the 11th Intelligence Service Unit, under the Intelligence and Security Group (now Army Intelligence Regiment). Faustino became a battalion commander as he commanded the 35th Infantry Battalion, under the 101st Infantry (Three Red Arrows) Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division (currently assigned under the 11th Infantry Division in Sulu) before becoming a brigade commander as he serves as the commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, under the 5th Infantry Division.[4]
General Faustino also served as the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army, and became an infantry division commander, as he was assigned to command the 10th Infantry Division. As the commander of the 10th Infantry Division from December 16, 2018, to January 25, 2020, he launched military operations against the New People's Army (NPA), and dismantled the NPA's six (6) Pulang Bagani Commands and four (4) Guerilla Fronts within his area's jurisdiction. He was named as the new commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command from January 25, 2020, to February 16, 2021, where he led the area's implementation of the Executive Order 70, where he continued to instigate military operations against the NPA, while aiming to create a nation-building approach against the Communist rebellion in the Philippines in order to achieve long-lasting peace in the country, and promoting community-building programs.[4]
On February 16, 2021, he was named as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army in acting capacity, and replaced then-Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, where he continued his predecessors' programs in modernization, organizational reforms, and the army's programs on nation-building. His tenure as the Acting Commanding General drew flak from senators, such as Senator Panfilo Lacson, as he is said to be "unqualified" for the post due to his short tenure on his post and his upcoming retirement in November 2021. Senator Lacson noted that under Section 4 of the Republic Act No. 8186, which states that the post for being named as the commander of the three service branches, with the exemption for the AFP Chief, should not be assigned to major posts on the condition that the named officer has less than one year of active service before he reaches his mandatory retirement age of 56.[6] He was replaced by then-commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Major General Andres Centino on May 14, 2021.[7]
He was originally named as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff on Peace and Development after he was replaced on his post as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army. Nevertheless, on June 4, 2021, Faustino was named as the first commander of the Joint Task Force Mindanao, a newly created command which unifies the AFP's Western and Eastern Commands and is responsible for the overall oversight of military operations within Mindanao. He spearheaded the creation of the Mindanao Security and Stability Plan, which aims to further boost the peace efforts made throughout the years, while assisting former rebels to normalization, which allows them to participate in society by providing jobs, and livelihood assistance towards regional development.[8][9]
On July 31, 2021, he assumed his post as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Gen. Cirilito Sobejana. As the AFP Chief, he proposed the creation of the Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CPCVE), which aims to further assist the AFP's study on extremism and terrorism, and craft measures to prevent their ideologies from spreading throughout the country and the region. He also planned to revive the Center for Self-Reliant Defense Posture, which aims to revive the country's self-reliance programs, while increasing foreign investments through local defense contracts, promote limited dependence on foreign military assistance, and utilizing the country's resources for defense development.[10][11][12][13] Faustino's promotion to the rank of General was approved by the Commission on Appointments on September 15, 2021.[14] [15] Faustino retired on November 12, 2021, after reaching the mandatory military age of 56, and was replaced by Army Chief Lieutenant General Andres Centino.[16]
Civilian career[]
Department of National Defense[]
In June 2022, President-elect Bongbong Marcos appointed Faustino to join his cabinet as the Secretary of National Defense. However, in adherence to Republic Act 6975, Faustino will assume his post on November 13, 2022, due to a one-year ban on the appointment of retired military officers (Faustino retired from military service on November 12, 2021). In the first few months of the Marcos Jr. administration, Faustino will first serve as a senior undersecretary and officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense.[1]
Awards from military service[]
Left Side:
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| Badges | AFP Parachutist Badge | |||||
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| Badges | Combat Commander's Badge | |||||
| 1st row | Chief Commander, Philippine Legion of Honor | 4 Distinguished Service Star Medals | ||||
| 2nd row | 2 Silver Cross Medals | 2 Meritorious Achievement Medals | 2 Chief of Staff of the AFP Commendation Medals | |||
| 3rd row | 1 Distinguished Service Medal | 1 Gawad sa Kaunlaran | 1 Silver Wing Medal | |||
| 4th row | Military Merit Medals with four spearhead devices, 30 overall total medals | Military Merit Medals with four bronze anahaw devices, 30 overall total medals | 1 Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal | |||
| 5th row | 4 Military Civic Action Medals | 1 Parangal sa Kapanalig ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas Medal | 7 Military Commendation Medals with one silver and two bronze triangular clasps | |||
| 6th row | 2 Long Service Medal with one campaign star | 1 Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal | 2 Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal with three campaign star | |||
| 7th row | 3 Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal with three campaign star | 1 Jolo and Sulu Campaign Medal | Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon | |||
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| 1st row | Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | |||||
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| 2nd row | People Power I Unit Citation | People Power II Unit Citation | Martial Law Unit Citation | |||
Badges and Other Awards:
Scout Ranger Qualification Badge- Presidential Security Group Badge
- Special Forces Qualification Badge
- Army Aviation Badge
Personal life[]
Known by his peers as "Boy", he is married to Joy B. Faustino and they have one daughter. He was adopted by a foster family during his time in Sulu.[17]
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Enrile, Guevarra, Faustino picked to serve under Marcos admin". GMA News Online. June 17, 2022. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/835185/enrile-guevarra-faustino-picked-to-serve-under-marcos-admin/story/.
- ↑ "Eastern Mindanao commander Jose Faustino is next Army chief" (in en). Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/jose-faustino-next-army-chief.
- ↑ "New acting Army chief has high level of experience: Sobejana" (in en). www.pna.gov.ph. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130456.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "The 56th AFP Chief of Staff". https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/1097-the-56th-afp-chief-of-staff.
- ↑ "Eastmincom Commander Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. is next Philippines Army Chief". February 12, 2021. https://newsline.ph/top-stories/2021/02/12/eastmincom-commander-lt-gen-jose-faustino-jr-is-next-philippines-army-chief/.
- ↑ Gonzales, Cathrine (March 10, 2021). "Philippine Army commanding general not qualified for post, says Lacson" (in en). INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1405268/philippine-army-commanding-general-not-qualified-for-post-says-lacson.
- ↑ Mendoza, John Eric (May 16, 2021). "Lacson lauds gov't for upholding 'rule of law' after new Army chief appointment" (in en). INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1432434/senator-lacson-lauds-palace-defense-establishment-for-upholding-rule-of-law-after-new-philippine-army-chief-appointment.
- ↑ "Former army chief Faustino named Joint Task Force Mindanao commander" (in en). Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/former-army-chief-named-joint-task-force-mindanao-commander.
- ↑ "Ex-Army chief Faustino named new head of joint task force for peace, security in Mindanao". Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/05/ex-army-chief-faustino-named-new-head-of-joint-task-force-for-peace-security-in-mindanao/.
- ↑ "General Sobejana bows out of military service". https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/1096-general-sobejana-bows-out-of-military-service.
- ↑ "General Sobejana bows out of military service". https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/2021/08/02/general-sobejana-bows-out-of-military-service.
- ↑ News, HANA BORDEY, GMA. "Faustino assumes post as 56th AFP chief" (in en). GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/797630/faustino-assumes-post-as-56th-afp-chief/story/.
- ↑ "Who is Jose Faustino Jr, AFP's 10th chief under Duterte?" (in en). Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/things-to-know-jose-faustino-jr-afp-10th-chief-duterte.
- ↑ "AFP chief Faustino confirmed to 4-star rank" (in en). www.pna.gov.ph. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1153622.
- ↑ "2 months before retirement, AFP chief Faustino promoted to 4-star rank" (in en). Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/two-months-before-retirement-afp-chief-jose-faustino-promoted-4-star-rank-august-2021.
- ↑ "General Faustino Jr relinquishes Chief of Staff post to Lt. Gen. Centino". https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/1195-general-faustino-jr-relinquishes-chief-of-staff-post-to-lt-gen-centino.
- ↑ "AFP chief tests positive for Covid-19 in antigen test" (in en). www.pna.gov.ph. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151282.
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