Incoming Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge (OIC), Jose Faustino Jr. (File photo courtesy of Philippine Army) MANILA - Incoming Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge (OIC), Jose Faustino Jr. has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong made the announcement on Thursday afternoon. Andolong said Faustino will physically report for work after complying with the prescribed quarantine period. "He is fully vaccinated and boostered, and is asymptomatic. He will temporarily perform his duties while in isolation," he said. Faustino, Andolong said, came into close contact with a Covid-19 positive individual during one of his many engagements and consultations prior to his assumption as the agency's OIC. "Contact tracing procedures are being undertaken. The transition ceremony will be conducted virtually and can be viewed live tomorrow, 1 July, starting at 9:30 A.M. on ," he added. Faust
In a message to the media, Faustino said the DND will “make sure to implement the order of [President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.] that ‘not a single square inch of the territory is surrendered’.”
Jose Faustino Jr. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army) MANILA - Incoming Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. has vowed to enhance the military's defense capabilities and ensure that "not a single square inch of the [Philippine] territory is surrendered" once he takes over the post in November. This aligns with the vision of the President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. of a stronger and better Philippines, he said. "National security is synonymous to human security. That is why we will do our best that all programs of the department will focus on protecting and defending the sovereignty of the country, to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, address the root causes of internal conflict, and make sure to implement the order of the President that 'not a single square inch of the territory is surrendered'," Faustino said. The Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernizati
Incoming Department of National Defense (DND) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Jose Faustino Jr. vowed to continue the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as the DND looks to give more emphasis now on territorial or external defense.
Retired general Jose Faustino Jr. (File photo cou