From the Manila Bulletin (Dec 10, 2021): ‘Part of God’s plan’: Brawner assumes post as new Army chief, looks back on near-death experiences (By Martin Sadongdong)
Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. officially took command of the 104,000-strong Philippine Army (PA) as its 65th Commanding General in a Change of Command hybrid ceremony on Friday, Dec. 10, describing it as a “part of God’s plan” in his life.Brawner replaced Lt. Gen. Andres Centino as the top man of the premier command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Centino, on the other hand, was appointed by President Duterte as the AFP Chief of Staff last month.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (middle) presides over the Change of Command Ceremony between Lt. Gen. Andres Centino (left) and Major Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (right), the outgoing and incoming Commanding General of the Philippine Army respectively, at the Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Dec. 10, 2021. (Screenshot from Philippine Army livestream)
Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Delfin Lorenzana presided over the ceremony at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City while other military commanders attended virtually due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Looking back, Brawner said it was as if becoming the Army chief was his destiny. He recalled a time where he was one of the passengers of the ill-fated C-130 aircraft that crashed in Sulu in July this year.
Brawner was saved since he alighted from the chopper midway of the flight in Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City while the rest of the passengers, mostly newly trained soldiers, were transported to Jolo for their first mission. More than 50 soldiers died in the air mishap.
In October also this year, Brawner was riding a Philippine Air Force helicopter en route to visit one of the Army’s forward operating detachments in Pantaron Range in Mindanao when they were fired upon by the New People’s Army (NPA). One of the choppers was hit multiple times, forcing them to make an emergency landing.
In 1986 when he was a second year cadet at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Brawner said he was struggling and wanted to go out of the academy by deliberately failing his Math subject – a major subject with five units. The deliberate attempt, however, was noticed by the Dean of the Academics so he gave the young Brawner a pep talk and passed him conditionally.
“And so today, I stand before you as the 65th Commanding General of the Philippine Army not with pride in my heart but with gratitude and humility, knowing that this was all part of God’s plan,” Brawner said in his assumption speech.
Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Delfin Lorenzana presided over the ceremony at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City while other military commanders attended virtually due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Looking back, Brawner said it was as if becoming the Army chief was his destiny. He recalled a time where he was one of the passengers of the ill-fated C-130 aircraft that crashed in Sulu in July this year.
Brawner was saved since he alighted from the chopper midway of the flight in Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City while the rest of the passengers, mostly newly trained soldiers, were transported to Jolo for their first mission. More than 50 soldiers died in the air mishap.
In October also this year, Brawner was riding a Philippine Air Force helicopter en route to visit one of the Army’s forward operating detachments in Pantaron Range in Mindanao when they were fired upon by the New People’s Army (NPA). One of the choppers was hit multiple times, forcing them to make an emergency landing.
In 1986 when he was a second year cadet at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Brawner said he was struggling and wanted to go out of the academy by deliberately failing his Math subject – a major subject with five units. The deliberate attempt, however, was noticed by the Dean of the Academics so he gave the young Brawner a pep talk and passed him conditionally.
“And so today, I stand before you as the 65th Commanding General of the Philippine Army not with pride in my heart but with gratitude and humility, knowing that this was all part of God’s plan,” Brawner said in his assumption speech.
Major General Romeo Brawner Jr. (File photo from Philippine Army)
Brawner said that he would focus on taking care of the troops’ health, morale, and welfare as well as the honing of their skills and competencies “to ensure that they can accomplish the missions given to them.”
Prior to this, Brawner was the commander of the 4th Infantry Division and oversaw the military operations in Northern Mindanao and Caraga. He led the 4ID in neutralizing high-ranking communist leaders, the most recent of whom was Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, the head of the NPA National Operations Command.
He is also a battle-tested military officer, having been designated as the deputy commander of the Task Group Ranao and spokesperson of Task Force Marawi during the Marawi siege.
He also assumed as brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City before he was elevated as the Commandant of Cadets at the PMA. Unfortunately, it was under his stint that a freshman cadet, Darwin Dormitorio, died due to alleged hazing.
This incident prompted Brawner to prioritize eradicating hazing in the premier military training institution before he resigned from post.
During his younger years, Brawner also held various key positions in the AFP including as commanding officer of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion; Chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry Division; spokesperson of the Philippine Army and Armed Forces of the Philippines; and regiment commander of the Civil Military Operations Regiment.
Brawner is a product of the PMA “Makatao” Class of 1989 where he graduated salutatorian. He was also the class “baron” or regiment commander of the Cadet Corps.
He has three master degrees under his name: 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 Master in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He also graduated from the European School of Management in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana commended Centino for his tour of duty as the 64th PA Commanding General, and challenged Brawner to emulate or even surpass his predecessor’s achievements. Centino is a graduate of the PMA “Maringal” Class of 1988.
As Army Chief, Centino pursued four significant thrusts which focused on implementing intelligence-driven operations; optimal use of resources; advancement of professionalism and meritocracy in the organization; and perfection of ownership of military camps and reservations for capability and base development.
Centino had visited remote detachments and patrols bases as part of his commitment to boost the troops’ morale, check their readiness, and reiterate the AFP’s drive to eradicate insurgency within the June 2022 deadline set by President Duterte.
“As I relinquish my command, I would like to remind you that we need to continue to pursue mission accomplishment and the morale and welfare of our personnel in complementing approaches. Make your presence known to the troops, visit their units and stands in remote locations and furthermost outposts of our country,” Centino told Brawner.
“Our troops will be more determined and motivated to do their jobs when they see, talk with, and confide with you their needs and problems. Give our troops that winning edge to fight and win our battles,” he added.
Brawner said that he would focus on taking care of the troops’ health, morale, and welfare as well as the honing of their skills and competencies “to ensure that they can accomplish the missions given to them.”
Prior to this, Brawner was the commander of the 4th Infantry Division and oversaw the military operations in Northern Mindanao and Caraga. He led the 4ID in neutralizing high-ranking communist leaders, the most recent of whom was Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, the head of the NPA National Operations Command.
He is also a battle-tested military officer, having been designated as the deputy commander of the Task Group Ranao and spokesperson of Task Force Marawi during the Marawi siege.
He also assumed as brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Marawi City before he was elevated as the Commandant of Cadets at the PMA. Unfortunately, it was under his stint that a freshman cadet, Darwin Dormitorio, died due to alleged hazing.
This incident prompted Brawner to prioritize eradicating hazing in the premier military training institution before he resigned from post.
During his younger years, Brawner also held various key positions in the AFP including as commanding officer of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion; Chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry Division; spokesperson of the Philippine Army and Armed Forces of the Philippines; and regiment commander of the Civil Military Operations Regiment.
Brawner is a product of the PMA “Makatao” Class of 1989 where he graduated salutatorian. He was also the class “baron” or regiment commander of the Cadet Corps.
He has three master degrees under his name: 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 Master in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He also graduated from the European School of Management in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana commended Centino for his tour of duty as the 64th PA Commanding General, and challenged Brawner to emulate or even surpass his predecessor’s achievements. Centino is a graduate of the PMA “Maringal” Class of 1988.
As Army Chief, Centino pursued four significant thrusts which focused on implementing intelligence-driven operations; optimal use of resources; advancement of professionalism and meritocracy in the organization; and perfection of ownership of military camps and reservations for capability and base development.
Centino had visited remote detachments and patrols bases as part of his commitment to boost the troops’ morale, check their readiness, and reiterate the AFP’s drive to eradicate insurgency within the June 2022 deadline set by President Duterte.
“As I relinquish my command, I would like to remind you that we need to continue to pursue mission accomplishment and the morale and welfare of our personnel in complementing approaches. Make your presence known to the troops, visit their units and stands in remote locations and furthermost outposts of our country,” Centino told Brawner.
“Our troops will be more determined and motivated to do their jobs when they see, talk with, and confide with you their needs and problems. Give our troops that winning edge to fight and win our battles,” he added.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/10/part-of-gods-plan-brawner-assumes-post-as-new-army-chief-looks-back-on-near-death-experiences/
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