By Christine Fabro
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the designation of Major General Andres Centino as the new chief of the Philippine Army (PA) on May 14, 2021.
This was confirmed by the Malacañang Palace through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday (May 16).
“We are confident that Maj. Gen. Centino will continue the initiatives to professionalize and modernize the principal branch of the AFP while building the gains to serve our people and secure our land,” said Roque in a statement.
Separately, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo welcomed this appointment and said, “[The appointment] came at the time when the AFP is vigorously pursuing its initiatives and building on its gains to defeat the Communist Terrorist Group, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).”
Centino, currently the commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID) based in Cagayan de Oro City, replaces Lieutenant General Jose Faustino, Jr., who will be retiring in November 2021.
Centino and Faustino both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988, where he graduated on top of his class.
The new chief served as the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations before his transfer to the 4ID, and was known to be big on hunting down communist rebels.
–rir
