President Rodrigo Duterte has picked Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Andres Centino as the 57th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, vice Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. who formally retired from the service on Friday.
In a press statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said: "We confirm that President Rodrigo Duterte a proved and signed the designation of Lt. Gen. Andres Centino as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines effective November 12, 2021."
“We are confident that Gen. Centino will continue the initiatives of his predecessors to bring lasting peace and development in the cou try while securing the State and upgrading our defense capability," he added.
The AFP immediately welcomed Centino's appointment.
"He has immense knowledge and experience in leading our troops on the ground and in supporting peaceful efforts to protect our people against various threats," AFP spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement.
He added Centino's integrity, management acumen and genuine desire for peace and development make him a competent leader and guide the AFP in fulfilling its mission while supporting national efforts to battle the current pandemic.
"The appointment of Lt. Gen. Centino will prompt an upward movement in the AFP leadership that will further inspire our soldiers to surpass challenges with excellence and continue our campaign towards genuine transformation," Zagala said.
Centino is a member of the Philippine Military Class of 1988 and assumed the position as Army commander last May.
He is a mistah (batchmate) of newly-appointed Philippine National Police chief, Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos.
Prior to his appointment as Army chief, Centino was the head of the Cagayan De Oro City-based 4th Infantry Division (4ID).
He also held various positions such as Commander of the 26th Infantry Battalion, 4ID; Secretary Army General Staff; Chief of Staff, 4ID; Commander of the 401st Infantry Brigade; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (J3) of the AFP.