PH Army commanding gen is new Armed Forces chief of staff

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner, Philippine Army Commanding General, as the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Malacañang announced on Wednesday.

He will be taking over from outgoing military chief General Andres Centino who will assume the post as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea after his retirement from active duty.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. FILE PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Makatao” Class of 1989, Brawner previously served as the Commandant of the Cadets in the Philippine Military Academy where he played an important role in the total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps.

His other notable positions include 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, Public Affairs of the Philippine Army; AFP Spokesperson; Commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment; and, Brigade Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade during the aftermath of the Marawi Siege in 2017.

He also served as the Commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, where he supervised the unit's combat operations that resulted to the decisive neutralization of Jorge Madlos or “Ka Oris,” the Commander of the National Operations Command of the New People's Army and has likewise 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.

Among the numerous awards and recognitions he received were: 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 US Army War College (UASWC) International Fellows Hall of Fame in recognition of his service at the highest command position in the Philippine Army. In that same visit, he was 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.