Centino formally assumes post as AFP chief of staff

General Andres Centino formally assumed his post as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday morning.

During the change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin received the saber, the symbol of responsibility that goes with command and authority, from outgoing AFP chief Lieutenant General Bartolome Bacarro. 

Bersamin then handed the saber to Centino.

In his speech, Centino paid tribute to Bacarro.

"As I close, I would like to pay tribute to the exemplary service of our honoree, outgoing Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, our Medal of Valor awardee and living hero. Sir, I wish you all the best and my best wishes to you and your family and your future endeavors," Centino said.

He also thanked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the commander-in-chief, for the "trust and confidence in my designation as chief of staff."

"Today as I take on this responsibility as chief of staff, I reiterate what I focused on in the past — to comply with the urgent task at hand. While significant gains have been achieved in our security campaigns, there remain critical tasks to be carried out that need to be fully complied. We must ensure that all our resources are employed to definitively address all the current threats that remain and emerging threats that pose," Centino said.

"Even in times of natural calamities, the Armed Forces must strive to continue to provide the necessary service and assistance throughout the country most especially in the most remote regions. We must make every effort to minimize casualties of our countrymen through proactive humanitarian and disaster response," he added.

"Our organization, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is a capable and professional organization. As our commander in chief stated in his State of the Nation Address last July, we will endure. Just as the state of the nation is sound, so is its Armed Forces," Centino said.

Centino then ended his speech by saying he is "ready to lead."

"Ladies and gentlemen soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, this is General Andres Castor Centino, your chief of staff, ready to lead," he said.

In a statement, the AFP backed Centino's appointment. 

"As a professional organization, the AFP supports the decision of the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The AFP will continue in its mission to defeat all armed threat groups for the security and safety of our people, for the defense of our territorial integrity and national sovereignty," the AFP said. 

Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. was among those who attended the change of command ceremony.

Malacañang announced on Friday that Marcos has appointed Centino as AFP chief of staff.

Centino already served as AFP's chief of staff from November 12, 2021, to August 8, 2022.

During his previous stint as AFP chief of staff, Centino implemented four major thrusts including operational efficiency, optimal use of resources, advancement of professionalism and meritocracy within the organization, and capability development.

His previous assignments also include Commander of 4th Infantry Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (J3), and Commander of 401st Infantry Brigade. —KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News