Brawner assumes post as Army chief

Major General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday assumed the top post in the Philippine Army.

Brawner, the former commander of the 4th Infantry Division, succeeded Lieutenant General Andres Centino, who was promoted to chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In his acceptance speech, Brawner said that he would focus on the health, morale, welfare, and skills development of the 100,000-strong Army troops.

“It is imperative that we pursue these thrusts so that we will be able to accomplish the mission that was ordered by no less than the commander-in-chief which is to end the local communist armed conflict by the end of his term,” he said at the change of command ceremony presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

“These thrusts, once achieved, will allow our Army units to perform another important task, that is to help the Commission on Elections ensure that next year's national elections is credible, orderly, and peaceful,” he added.

The new Army chief led the 4ID in neutralizing high-ranking communist rebels in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

He also served as the commanding officer of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, chief of staff of the 6th Infantry Division, spokesman of the Philippine Army, the AFP, and regiment commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment.

Brawner was the deputy commander of the Task Group Ranao and spokesperson of Task Force Marawi during the Marawi siege in 2017. He was also the brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi.

He also served as the commandant of cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), where he considers the eradication of hazing his most significant contribution.

Brawner was the first deputy chief of staff for financial management or J10.

The 65th Army commanding general graduated from the PMA as part of the "Makatao" Class of 1989, where he finished salutatorian and was a “baron" or regiment commander of the cadet corps. — VBL, GMA News