Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is confident that former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Jose C. Faustino Jr. is capable of continuing the momentum achieved by the agency in its various missions.

"I am confident that with his years of dedicated service as a military officer, Gen. Faustino will continue the Department's momentum in our internal security and external defense operations, as well as the modernization of the armed forces and the entire defense organization," he added.

Lorenzana also expressed confidence that Faustino will be updated on all of his tasks as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the DND, having retired only last November.

"General Faustino will hit the ground running, so to speak, having just left the AFP in November," he added.

Also, Lorenzana said he welcomes President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. decision to select Faustino as the incoming OIC of the DND.

"I look forward to working with General Faustino and his team in the transition period leading up to June 30," he added.

Faustino took over the AFP leadership from Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, who bowed out from military service on July 31, 2021, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Before his assumption as the 56th AFP chief-of-staff, Faustino was the head of the Joint Task Force Mindanao and has also served as the acting commanding general of the Philippine Army.

He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988.