President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has picked Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner as the next chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) revealed.

NEW AFP CHIEF — President Marcos shakes the hand of incoming Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief LtGen. Romeo Brawner in a meeting in Malacañang on July 19, 2023. Joining them are outgoing AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. (Malacañang photo)

Brawner will replace General Andres Centino, who was re-appointed by President Marcos to the said post earlier this year. The Chief Executive met them in Malacañang on Wednesday, July 19.

According to the PCO, Centino will be appointed Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea.

Brawner currently serves as Commanding General of the Philippine Army, which he assumed on December 10, 2021.

He graduated number two in the Philippine Military Academy "Makatao" Class of 1989 and has since served the military in various capacities.

Among his previous designations in the military were:

• Company Commander of the 6th Special Forces Company
• Battalion Commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion
• Operations Officer of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)
• Chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division
• Chief of Public Affairs of the Philippine Army
• Spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment
• Brigade Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade during the aftermath of the Marawi Siege in 2017

Brawner also previously served as the Commandant of the Cadets in the Philippine Military Academy, where he played an essential role in eradicating hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps. He was the first Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, J10, AFP.

He served as the Commander of the 4th Infantry "Diamond" Division, supervising the unit's combat operations that resulted in the neutralization of Jorge Madlos or "Ka Oris," the Commander of the National Operations Command of the New People's Army.

"He exemplified the highest levels of excellence in his military schoolings, topping his classes in the Special Forces Operations Course, Intelligence Officer Course, and the AFP Comptrollership Course," the PCO noted.

In addition, Brawner has three Master's Degrees:

• Master's in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University
• Master's in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and the European School of Management, Oxford, United Kingdom
• Master's in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (USAWC)

Brawner was named one of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) in 2013 by the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati. He also received the Lapu-Lapu Award from former president Rodrigo Duterte for his valuable contributions to the neutralization of Abu Dar, the last of the original leaders of the Maute-ISIS faction.

In March this year, Brawner was inducted into the US Army War College (UASWC) International Fellows Hall of Fame for his service at the highest command position in the Philippine Army. On that same visit, he was conferred the Legion of Merit – Degree of Commander for his meritorious service as the Commanding General of the  Philippine Army, particularly in ensuring that the Philippine Army remains trained, ready, and postured for all missions.