New AFP chief Brawner inspires high hopes among senators

FILE PHOTO: Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. during a press conference at the Philippine Army Officers Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, on February 15, 2023. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Brawner as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Gen. Andres Centino. Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Senators have high hopes for Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. as he takes the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In separate messages, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Jinggoy Estrada looked back at Brawner’s military career, which, they said, made him suitable to lead the AFP.

Brawner replaced Gen. Andres Centino as AFP chief.

Dela Rosa, a former police chief, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a “very good decision” when he picked Brawner as the new AFP chief of staff.

“Excellent choice. Gen. Brawner was my plebe in the Academy, and I know what he is made of. He comes from a family of generational heroes,” he said.

Estrada, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense and security, lauded Brawner’s predecessor Centino for his “significant accomplishments in improving our internal security situation.”

He added that Brawner will be inheriting “a much better AFP” from Centino.

“As he takes on his significant responsibility, I am confident that Lt. Gen. Brawner will lead the AFP with the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and honor,” Estrada said.

The lawmaker also remembered Brawner’s “distinguished career,” where he has “proven himself as a capable military leader.”

“(Brawner’s) extensive experience in various key positions within the AFP has honed his skills in managing complex operations and addressing the security challenges that our country faces,” Estrada added.

Pimentel was rather reserved with his words for Brawner, saying he would defer to the judgment of Marcos, who, he said, should know his appointees better as the commander-in-chief.

“At any rate, Gen. Brawner has served the AFP his whole adult life, and we have seen his high-profile assignments in the service,” he said.

Pimentel said he holds no injurious information about Brawner, which makes the military leader “qualified for the job the President has chosen him for.”

President’s ‘foremost powers’

Marcos had replaced Centino as AFP chief before the latter’s compulsory retirement.

Centino, the only officer appointed AFP chief twice, will now serve as presidential adviser on the West Philippine Sea.

He, however, was eligible to lead the AFP until 2026, under a new law intending to end the “revolving door policy” in which military heads serve for only a few months or a year.

The law had set a maximum tour of duty of three consecutive years for the AFP chief unless sooner terminated by the President.

READ: Marcos signs law revising tenure of top AFP officials

But Estrada explained that Marcos had “exercised his prerogative as commander in chief.”

“If I may further emphasize, the authority to appoint is one of the President’s foremost powers under our Constitution,” he added.

RELATED STORIES

Army head Brawner named military chief

Centino named AFP chief to fix seniority issue – Bongbong Marcos

kga/abc