AFP welcomes back Centino as 59th chief of staff

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday welcomed back Gen. Andres Centino as its 59th chief of staff, replacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro in a change-of-command ceremony held yesterday.

The ceremony was presided over by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the AFP Commissioned Officers’ Country at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Centino took his oath before President Marcos at Malacañang last Friday following his appointment to hold the top military position.

Centino previously served as the AFP chief of staff from Nov. 12, 2021 to Aug. 8, 2022.

Within that period, Centino implemented four major thrusts within the military organization: operational efficiency, optimal use of resources, advancement of professionalism, meritocracy within the organization and capability development.

“As I take on the responsibility as chief of staff, I reiterate what I have focused on in the past to comply with the urgent tasks at hand. While significant gains have been achieved in our security campaigns, there remain critical tasks to be carried out that need to be fully complied. We must ensure that all our resources are employed to definitively address all the current and emerging threats,” he said.

Bacarro, who assumed the top position on Aug. 8 last year, is set to retire from military service.

For more than five months serving as chief of staff, Bacarro advocated his five-pronged thrust for the AFP: unparalleled professionalism, noble utilization of resources, invigorating capability development, tenacity in sustaining gains and yearning for service excellence.

In his message, Bacarro conveyed his gratitude to the men and women of the AFP and his family, who served as his inspiration.

For his part, Bersamin said he was much impressed by the AFP’s exhibition of obeisance to a great and hallowed tradition of the change of command.

“This tradition is worth emulating by the civilian sector of the population, and I will remember this moment and look back to this occasion as that beacon light in order to guide other transitions in the civilian and political sectors of our society. I am sure that every one of you knows your oaths of office and has expressed and practiced your loyalty to the Constitution and to the flag. Continue on that course,” he said.