Lt.Gen. Romeo Brawner assumes AFP chief post Friday

CNN Philippines

The Armed Forces officially welcomes its new chief, Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner, tomorrow. While his predecessor General Andres Centino is getting a new role as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea.  But as senior correspondent David Santos tells us, Malacañang has yet to define the functions of the newly created position.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 Armed Forces Chief Andres Centino and Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Bronner summoned

00:05 to Malacanang Wednesday afternoon.

00:08 An announcement made later, Bronner is taking over Centino's post with the change of command

00:13 ceremony set on Friday.

00:15 On the eve of his retirement, Centino faced the media for the last time as an officer

00:20 of the Armed Forces which he served for almost four decades.

00:24 "I'm leaving the service fulfilled, contented, satisfied and happy that I have done my part."

00:33 Defense Chief Gilbert Teodoro was present when President Marcos relayed his decision.

00:38 "Well, the President's choice really was that there should be already succession in the Armed

00:46 Forces."

00:47 Based on a new law on fixed terms in the military, the AFP chief may serve a maximum of three

00:53 years unless the President wants him replaced sooner.

00:57 The law aims to do away with the so-called revolving door practice in the military seen

01:01 as a token appointment and limiting the impact they could make during their term.

01:07 Bronner is already the third AFP chief appointed under the one-year-old Marcos administration.

01:13 "The change between General Centino and General Bronner is not a good basis for saying whether

01:23 or not the intent of the law was complied with or defeated."

01:29 It's been almost two years since Bronner was named Army Chief.

01:33 If he was not promoted to AFP chief, he'll be forced to retire early as stipulated in

01:39 the new law.

01:40 Bronner is a member of BMA Class 1989.

01:43 Among his numerous assignments, spokesman of a number of units, he was the subject of

01:49 rumors last year when he was identified as among the potential candidates for the top

01:54 AFP post.

01:55 "We see the issues and challenges also of our other services.

02:01 So I think General Bronner with his experience and leadership skills, he would be able to

02:08 really steer the armed forces as a whole."

02:11 Centino, on the other hand, will remain in government.

02:14 The president has offered him a new created post, presidential advisor on the West Philippine

02:20 Sea.

02:21 "So to underscore the importance of the West Philippine Sea and the dynamic of the events

02:30 which occur there on a daily basis, the president decided to have a presidential advisor with

02:37 cabinet stature on this."

02:38 "There are incidents that have occurred in the past months and perhaps if this can be

02:44 addressed more appropriately, we can stop what happened."

02:49 Since it's a new office, the scope of Centino's functions is still unclear.

02:54 But like any soldier, he's not backing down, taking on the new challenge to serve the nation.

03:00 David Santos, CNN Philippines.

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