Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 6) — Malacañang made a surprise announcement on Friday that Gen. Andres Centino will again serve as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff.
Centino, who held the post from Nov. 12, 2021 until Aug. 8, 2022, took his oath of office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).[Embed post]During Centino’s first tour of duty as AFP chief of staff, the PCO said major initiatives within the AFP were put into place, namely, operational efficiency, optimal resource use, growth of professionalism and meritocracy within the organization, and capability development.Under his leadership, the armed forces successfully launched military campaigns to combat insurgents and local terrorist groups resulting in the dismantling of guerilla fronts and the clearing of affected communities,” the PCO said in a statement.Centino is set to retire on Feb. 4 at age 56, but due to Republic Act (RA) 11709 or the law that set a term for key military positions, he is expected to serve for another three years.READ: Duterte signs law setting fixed term for top military posts, changing retirement ageThe incoming AFP chief replaces Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, the same military official who succeeded him on Aug. 8, 2022.Marcos earlier deemed Bacarro as the “right leader” to lead the military toward a “much improved and stronger AFP in the days ahead.READ: Marcos confident Bacarro is ‘right leader’ for AFP
