Incoming Army chief Brawner to focus on crushing NPA rebels

Defeating communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office will be one of the priorities of incoming Philippine Army chief Major General Romeo Brawner Jr.

"As a force provider, what I can do is to capacitate our soldiers so that we can finish the task that was given to us by the President," Brawner said Tuesday night, shortly after Malacañang announced his appointment as next commander of the 100,000-strong Philippine Army.

"President Duterte said that by the end of his term, there should be an end to the local armed conflict," Brawner said. "We will try our best to meet that with a highly-competent, highly-skilled, highly-professional Philippine Army soldiers."

Recent military estimates placed the NPA strength at around 3,000 throughout the country.

Duterte, the military's commander in chief, has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to defeat the NPA before the end of his term in June next year.

Aside from ending the armed communist insurgency, Brawner also said the "health, welfare and morale" of Army soldiers and their families will be his priority.

He said he would also focus on developing the capability of Philippine Army soldiers.

"Of course, we will also focus on our core competency which is war-fighting. We will develop the capability of the Army soldiers," Brawner said.

Brawner also vowed to take care of the health, welfare and morale of soldiers and their families, noting that the troops "are the most important resource of the Philippine Army."

Brawner, a member of the Philippine Military Academy's Makatao Class of 1989, will take over the Philippine Army after its former commander, General Andres Centino, was appointed AFP chief in November.

The AFP, meanwhile, welcomed Brawner's appointment.

"Maj. Gen. Brawner’s appointment is a testimony to the professionalism and dynamism of the military organization which are important in carrying out our mission to protect the people and the state," said AFP spokesman Colonel Ramon Zagala in a statement on Wednesday. —KBK, GMA News