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MANILA, June 17 (Reuters) – Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr has appointed former army chief Jose Faustino because the Southeast Asian nation’s subsequent defence minister in his cupboard, his press secretary mentioned on Friday.
When he takes up the submit later this month, Faustino must steadiness the Philippines’ relations with Washington, a treaty ally, and Beijing, which continues its assertive stance in claiming virtually the entire South China Sea.
He can even must deal with a decades-long insurgency by Maoist rebels and the continuing risk from violent Muslim extremism within the risky southern Philippines.
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Faustino will initially be the officer-in-charge of the defence ministry, according to a rule barring army officers taking on ministerial posts for a 12 months after retirement. He’ll later change into the defence chief, press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles in a press release.
Faustino was the tenth army chief to serve below outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, main the 143,000-strong army for 4 months final 12 months.
Relations between the US and its former Asian colony have been difficult below Duterte, who has criticised U.S. international coverage and sought nearer ties with China, since coming to energy in 2016.
Marcos, who is because of be sworn in as president on June 30, has but to appoint his international affairs minister.
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Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales
Enhancing by Ed Davies
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