Incoming AFP chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Malacañang announced Wednesday.
Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil confirmed the latest appointment of Brawner who will replace AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino.
“Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner will be the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will take the place of General Andres Centino who was re-appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the said post earlier this year,” Garafil said.
Prior to his new appointment, Brawner was the commanding general of the Philippine Army since Dec. 10, 2021.
He graduated No. 2 in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Makatao” Class of 1989 and served in the military in various capacities for 34 years now.
He became the company commander of the 6th Special Forces Company; battalion commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion; operations officer of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne); chief of staff of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division; chief of the Public Affairs of the Philippine Army; spokesperson of the AFP; commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment; and brigade Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade during the aftermath of the Marawi Siege in 2017.
Brawner also served as the commandant of PMA, playing an important role in the total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps.
He later served as the first deputy chief of staff for Financial Management, J10 of the AFP.
He also worked as commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, supervising the unit’s combat operations that led to the decisive neutralization of Jorge Madlos or “Ka Oris,” the commander of the National Operations Command of the New People’s Army.
“He exemplified the highest levels of excellence in his military schoolings, topping his classes in the Special Forces Operations Course, Intelligence Officer Course and the AFP Comptrollership Course,” Garafil said.
Brawner has acquired three Master’s Degrees: Master’s in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University; Master’s in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and from the European School of Management, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Master’s in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (USAWC).
He also received numerous awards and recognitions, including The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) in 2013 by the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati, and the Lapu-Lapu Award by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his valuable contributions in the neutralization of Abu Dar, the last of the original leaders of the Maute-ISIS faction.
In March this year, Brawner was inducted into the USAWC International Fellows Hall of Fame in recognition of his service at the highest command position in the Philippine Army.
Brawner was also conferred the Legion of Merit – Degree of Commander in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious service as the Commanding General, Philippine Army, particularly in ensuring that the Philippine Army remains trained, ready, and postured for all missions.
Presidential adviser
Meantime, Garafil said Centino has been appointed as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea.
Centino already reached the mandatory retirement on Feb. 4 this year but qualified for another three-year term following the signing of Republic Act 11709.
Under RA 11709, the AFP chief of staff, vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, heads of the major services (Army, Navy, and Air Force), unified command commanders, and inspector general will have a three-year term of office "unless sooner terminated by the President."
Centino served as Philippine Army chief from May 14, 2021 to Dec. 10, 2021.
His other assignments include commander of the 4th Infantry Division, AFP deputy-chief-of-staff for operations or J-3 in military parlance and head of the 401st Infantry Brigade.
Centino graduated cum laude from the PMA.
He also holds a Master’s in Business Management from the University of the Philippines, Master’s in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington D.C. and a certificate in the Strategic Business Economic Program of the University of Asia and the Pacific. (PNA)
