MANILA (UPDATE) — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has appointed Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Brawner, currently the commanding general of the Philippine Army, will succeed General Andres Centino, who has been appointed as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. Centino was re-appointed as AFP chief in January this year.

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"[Brawner] graduated number two in the Philippine Military Academy 'Makatao' Class of 1989 and has since served the military in various capacities for 34 years now," Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.

"He exemplified the highest levels of excellence in his military schoolings, topping his classes in the Special Forces Operations Course, Intelligence Officer Course, and the AFP Comptrollership Course," she added.

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In a Twitter post, Marcos lauded both Brawner and Centino, saying their expertise will help the country's defense and strategy amid geopolitical tensions.

"Malakas na depensa at matalinong estratehiya sa gitna ng mga tensyong geopolitical ang ating kinakailangan. Kaya naman itinalaga nating Chief of Staff ng Armed Forces of the Philippines si Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner at Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea naman si General Andres Centino. Umaasa tayo sa kanilang karanasan at tapat na serbisyo upang protektahan ang mamamayang Pilipino at ipaglaban ang soberanya ng bansa," he said.

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa also said Brawner is an "excellent choice" for AFP chief.

"Very good decision. Excellent choice. Gen Brawner was my plebe in the Academy and I know what he is made of. He comes from a family of of generational heroes," he said in a text message.

Previously, Garafil said Brawner was also the commandant of the cadets in the Philippine Military Academy which was marked by the "total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps."

Brawner is the third AFP chief under the Marcos administration.

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