FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila - The Philippine Army welcomed 4th Infantry Division (4ID) Commander Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., as its 65th Commanding General in a Change of Command Ceremony, today, December 10, 2021, at the Headquarters Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Metro Manila.
Maj. Gen. Brawner assumed leadership of the 100,000-strong Philippine Army from AFP Chief of Staff and outgoing Commanding General, Philippine Army (CGPA) Lt. Gen. Andres C. Centino in a ceremony presided by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana.
As Commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), Maj. Gen. Brawner led the division in neutralizing high-ranking Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) personalities in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions, including the head of the NPA's National Operations Command Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos. This feat demoralized the NPA nationwide, resulting in the mass surrender of CPP-NPA-Terrorists (CNTs).
Maj. Gen. Brawner held various key positions in the AFP, such as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, Chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry Division, Spokesman of the Philippine Army, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Regiment Commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment.
During the Marawi Siege, he was designated as Deputy Commander of the Task Group Ranao and Spokesperson of Task Force Marawi. Later on, he assumed as Brigade Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City. He then became the Commandant of Cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), where he considers the eradication of hazing his most significant contribution. Major General Brawner was also the first Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, J10, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The new CGPA is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Makatao," Class of 1989, where he graduated Salutatorian and was a "Baron" or Regiment Commander of the Cadet Corps.
He acquired three (3) masters degrees - Master of Science in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University, Master of Business Administration (Management of Technology) from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, and the European School of Management in Oxford, United Kingdom, and a Master in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
In his acceptance speech, Maj. Gen. Brawner said that he would focus on taking care of troops' health, morale, and welfare and honing their skills and competencies to ensure that they can accomplish the mission given to them.
Meanwhile, Sec. Lorenzana commended Lt. Gen. Centino for his outstanding tour of duty as the 64th CGPA and challenged Maj. Gen. Brawner to build upon the foundations laid by his predecessors with utmost integrity, dedication, and professionalism.
As CGPA, Lt. Gen. Centino pursued four significant thrusts: implementing intel-driven operations; optimal use of resources; advancement of professionalism and meritocracy within the organization; and perfection of ownership of military camps and reservations for capability and base development.
He has visited remote detachments and patrol bases as part of his commitment to boost the troops' morale, check their readiness to perform their duties, and reiterate the AFP's drive to eradicate insurgency within the June 2022 deadline set by the Commander-in-Chief.
Lt. Gen. Centino has also directed commanders to "lead from the front" and make their presence felt even in the remotest parts of their respective areas of responsibility. He ordered the establishment of the new forward operating detachments to support and boost anti-insurgency operations.
The outgoing CGPA assumed as the 57th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last November 12.