Carlito Galvez Jr. is out as Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, with Malacañang confirming that President Bongbong Marcos accepted his resignation.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the move. No reason was disclosed for his departure.
The Palace moved quickly to install former interior secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new peace adviser, placing him in charge of one of the government’s most sensitive portfolios.
Galvez, a retired Armed Forces chief of staff, held the post across two administrations. He first took the role under former president Rody Duterte and stayed on under Marcos. He oversaw state-led peace efforts and reconciliation work with various groups nationwide.
He had earlier submitted a courtesy resignation as part of a broader performance review ordered by Marcos. He said he supported the evaluation as part of the administration’s governance efforts.
Sarmiento brings prior Cabinet and legislative experience into the role. He served as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government under former president Benigno Aquino III. He also represented Samar’s first district in the House of Representatives.
The shift comes days after Eduardo Año stepped down as national security adviser and was replaced by Eduardo Oban, marking another change inside the security and peace cluster.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity handles key peace process programs, including commitments tied to former combatants transitioning to civilian life. Reports have flagged delays in parts of the normalization track, including the release of socio-economic support intended for former fighters.
