Marcos appoints Brawner as AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has named Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner as the next chief of the country’s 150,000-strong Armed Forces, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Brawner will replace Gen. Andres Centino, who will be appointed presidential adviser on the West Philippine Sea, according to a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The PCO did not say when the appointment of Brawner would take effect.

Under Republic Act 11939 signed by Marcos in May, the AFP chief should serve for three consecutive years, which starts on the date of the signing of the appointment, unless sooner terminated by the president.

Brawner, who was designated Army chief on Dec. 10, 2021, ranked second in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)’s “Makatao” Class of 1989.

He has held key posts in the military, including chief of the 6th Special Forces Company and the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, operations officer of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) and chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

He also served as the Army’s public affairs chief, spokesman for the AFP and commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment.

During the 2017 Marawi siege, Brawner was designated deputy commander of the Task Group Ranao, which fought local terrorist groups that have links with international terrorist organization Islamic State.

Later, he was appointed commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade.

Brawner is also a former cadet commandant of the PMA, wherein he played a key role in eliminating the culture of hazing and maltreatment in the cadet corps.

He became the military’s first deputy chief of staff for financial management. When he was chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, Brawner supervised a military operation that resulted in the death of ranking New People’s Army leader Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris.

The incoming AFP chief topped his classes in the special force operations, intelligence officer and AFP comptrollership courses.

He holds three master’s degrees: information management from the Ateneo de Manila University, business administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and European School of Management in United Kingdom, and strategic studies from the United States’ Army War College.

Early this year, Brawner was inducted into the US Army War College International Fellows Hall of Fame for heading the Philippine Army.

He was conferred the Legion of Merit-Degree of Commander in recognition of his “exceptionally meritorious service” as Army chief.