Country safer with Brawner as AFP chief --- Marcos
Published Jul 21, 2023 08:18 am
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that the Philippines will be safer and more secure, with Gen. Romeo Brawner leading the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as he vowed continued support for the country's uniformed personnel.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)*
Marcos said this as he presided over the AFP Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony in honor of General Andres Centino at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, July 21. In his speech, the President said the AFP, under Brawner's leadership, would continue promoting the country's welfare. "I have faith that under the supervision of Gen. Brawner, the Armed Forces will continue to ensure the security of Filipinos and the national sovereignty of our country amidst the challenges ahead," he said. "I know that your supervision will give rise to a safer and more secure nation, where more rebels return to the fold of the law and decide to be productive citizens," he added. Meanwhile, Marcos asked the AFP to recalibrate its internal security operations so the government could deliver public services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities. He likewise asked them to work with stakeholders to instill "archipelagic consciousness" among Filipinos. "I urge you all to work towards an Armed Forces that is agile and prepared for any contingency," he said. "I ask you, too, to continue working with national government agencies and civilian stakeholders to form an archipelagic consciousness amongst Filipinos. This will help champion our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he added. According to the President, his Administration remains firm in pursuing the modernization of the AFP. President [Marcos named Brawner as the new AFP chief-of-staff on July 19](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/19/marcos-names-brawner-as-next-afp-chief). He replaced Gen. Andres Centino, who will now serve as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. In his speech on Friday, Marcos explained his decision to keep Centino in the government. "We have made sure that we do not lose the talent and the skills and the experience that Gen. Andy has acquired in his 39 years of service," he said. "I have assigned him as the presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea so that we can be sure that all our policies in that regard are continuously evolving from what we had begun," he added.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)*
Marcos said this as he presided over the AFP Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony in honor of General Andres Centino at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, July 21. In his speech, the President said the AFP, under Brawner's leadership, would continue promoting the country's welfare. "I have faith that under the supervision of Gen. Brawner, the Armed Forces will continue to ensure the security of Filipinos and the national sovereignty of our country amidst the challenges ahead," he said. "I know that your supervision will give rise to a safer and more secure nation, where more rebels return to the fold of the law and decide to be productive citizens," he added. Meanwhile, Marcos asked the AFP to recalibrate its internal security operations so the government could deliver public services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities. He likewise asked them to work with stakeholders to instill "archipelagic consciousness" among Filipinos. "I urge you all to work towards an Armed Forces that is agile and prepared for any contingency," he said. "I ask you, too, to continue working with national government agencies and civilian stakeholders to form an archipelagic consciousness amongst Filipinos. This will help champion our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he added. According to the President, his Administration remains firm in pursuing the modernization of the AFP. President [Marcos named Brawner as the new AFP chief-of-staff on July 19](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/19/marcos-names-brawner-as-next-afp-chief). He replaced Gen. Andres Centino, who will now serve as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. In his speech on Friday, Marcos explained his decision to keep Centino in the government. "We have made sure that we do not lose the talent and the skills and the experience that Gen. Andy has acquired in his 39 years of service," he said. "I have assigned him as the presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea so that we can be sure that all our policies in that regard are continuously evolving from what we had begun," he added.