00:00 Armed Forces Chief Andres Centino and Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Bronner summoned
00:05 to Malacanang Wednesday afternoon.
00:08 An announcement made later, Bronner is taking over Centino's post with the change of command
00:13 ceremony set on Friday.
00:15 On the eve of his retirement, Centino faced the media for the last time as an officer
00:20 of the Armed Forces which he served for almost four decades.
00:24 "I'm leaving the service fulfilled, contented, satisfied and happy that I have done my part."
00:33 Defense Chief Gilbert Teodoro was present when President Marcos relayed his decision.
00:38 "Well, the President's choice really was that there should be already succession in the Armed
00:46 Forces."
00:47 Based on a new law on fixed terms in the military, the AFP chief may serve a maximum of three
00:53 years unless the President wants him replaced sooner.
00:57 The law aims to do away with the so-called revolving door practice in the military seen
01:01 as a token appointment and limiting the impact they could make during their term.
01:07 Bronner is already the third AFP chief appointed under the one-year-old Marcos administration.
01:13 "The change between General Centino and General Bronner is not a good basis for saying whether
01:23 or not the intent of the law was complied with or defeated."
01:29 It's been almost two years since Bronner was named Army Chief.
01:33 If he was not promoted to AFP chief, he'll be forced to retire early as stipulated in
01:39 the new law.
01:40 Bronner is a member of BMA Class 1989.
01:43 Among his numerous assignments, spokesman of a number of units, he was the subject of
01:49 rumors last year when he was identified as among the potential candidates for the top
01:54 AFP post.
01:55 "We see the issues and challenges also of our other services.
02:01 So I think General Bronner with his experience and leadership skills, he would be able to
02:08 really steer the armed forces as a whole."
02:11 Centino, on the other hand, will remain in government.
02:14 The president has offered him a new created post, presidential advisor on the West Philippine
02:20 Sea.
02:21 "So to underscore the importance of the West Philippine Sea and the dynamic of the events
02:30 which occur there on a daily basis, the president decided to have a presidential advisor with
02:37 cabinet stature on this."
02:38 "There are incidents that have occurred in the past months and perhaps if this can be
02:44 addressed more appropriately, we can stop what happened."
02:49 Since it's a new office, the scope of Centino's functions is still unclear.
02:54 But like any soldier, he's not backing down, taking on the new challenge to serve the nation.
03:00 David Santos, CNN Philippines.
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