PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed Gen. Andres Centino as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (A.FP), Malacañang announced on Friday.

Centino, who already served the same position from November 12, 2021, to August 8, 2022, replaced Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro after taking his oath of office before Marcos.

Centino and Bacarro are both members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988. 

Centino graduated cum laude from the PMA, while Bacarro is a Medal of Valor awardee, the highest decoration in the AFP for combat.

“As chief-of-staff, Centino implemented four major thrusts within the AFP which are operational efficiency, optimal use of resources, advancement of professionalism and meritocracy within the organization, and capability development,” Presidential Communications Office officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

Before his earlier appointment as AFP chief, Centino served as Philippine Army chief from May 14, 2021, to Dec. 10, 2021.

His other assignments include commander of the 4th Infantry Division, based in Cagayan de Oro City, AFP deputy-chief-of-staff for operations or J-3 in military parlance, and head of the 401st Infantry Brigade.

Gen. Centino deserves the position being a seasoned officer, who has served the military for the past 35 years, according to Cagayan de Oro City Councilor George Goking.

Goking said even civic groups and government officials in northern Mindanao including the military have lauded the appointment of General Centino as AFP chief-of-Staff.

"He's a true officer and a gentleman,” said Goking.

Under Centino’s term as chief of staff, the AFP successfully launched military campaigns to combat insurgents and local terrorist groups resulting in the dismantling of guerrilla fronts and the clearing of affected communities.

He also led all units of the AFP nationwide in advancing the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Philippine 2022 national and local elections.

Centino also pushed for the completion of capability projects as part of the modernization of the AFP.

He also holds a Master’s in Business Management from the University of the Philippines, a Master’s in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C, and a certificate in the Strategic Business Economic Program of the University of Asia and the Pacific.