FIVE months after he assumed command of the Army 4th Infantry Division, Major General Romeo Brawner Jr., has been appointed as commanding general of the 100,000-strong Philippine Army.

President Rodrigo Duterte notified Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana that his appointment of Brawner as Philippine Army Chief is effective on December 7.

“I wish to inform you that per your letter-endorsement and in accordance with the recommendation of Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chairman, AFP Board of Generals, the designation of General Romeo Brawner Jr., as commanding general, Philippine Army, is herby approved effective this date,” Duterte said in the appointment order dated December 7.

Brawner replaced the Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Andres Centeno who is also the concurrent AFP Chief of Staff.

He assumed command of the 4th Infantry Division, the Army unit mainly responsible for counterinsurgency operations in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions last July 1.

His major success during the five-month sting was the death of communist leader Jorge Madlos aka “Ka Oris”, spokesperson of the New People’s Army National Operational Command and the National Democratic Front in Mindanao who was killed in a military operation in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon last Oct. 31.

Brawner used to be the spokesperson and deputy commander of the military task force Ranao fighting the ISIS-inspired militants who attacked Marawi City in 2017.

He later took over the command of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi as the military launched operations to flush out the remaining militants.

Bangsamoro Transition Authority Deputy Speaker Zia Alonto Adiong heaped praises on Brawner on his appointment as Army chief.

“I have personally seen his dedication and degree of commitment in serving the people,” Adiong said.

Adiong and Brawner used to work together during the siege in Marawi acting both as spokespersons.

A native of Kiangan, Ifugao province, Brawner belongs to the Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class 1989.

He became the Commandant of Cadets at the academy after it was rocked by a hazing scandal in 2019.