Faces of the News: Carlito Galvez Jr.

Former Armed Forces Chief of Staff and now Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. recently found himself thrust into an unfamiliar battleground — the fight against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

As chief implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) against COVID-19, Galvez immediately gathered his forces and drew up a strategy of attack.

The NAP outlines a “multipronged, multiagency” plan that includes enhanced community quarantine and enhanced monitoring and response.

But days into the job, Galvez found himself the “last man standing,” with four of his fellow commanders sidelined by the COVID-19 threat: Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Felimon Santos Jr. tested positive for the virus and had to undergo treatment, while Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Gen. Archie Gamboa, Philippine National Police chief, went into a 14-day quarantine due to possible exposure.

Galvez said the task force would look at how other countries were faring in their fight against COVID-19.

“We need to learn from their best practices, and apply them in our own fight against the disease,” he said.