THE change of command in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that occurred last Saturday was simple and short. Gen. Andres Centino was reappointed as chief of staff, replacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro who just five months earlier replaced Centino in the AFP’s top post.
How this happened is another manifestation of the tentativeness of the Bongbong Marcos administration, especially in its first few weeks.
The seeming indecision by the Palace on the matter of AFP chief of staff stemmed from varying interpretations of the new Republic Act 11709, a law signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in April last year that, among others, sets a fixed term of three years for eight of the most senior AFP officers, including the chief of staff and the commanders of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
‘The call for unity in the Armed Forces is Centino’s most timely move, for he faces hard work ahead of him in trying to consolidate the AFP and free it from division and dissension.’
Centino and Bacarro, who were classmates when they were studying in the Philippine Military Academy, were themselves gentlemen enough to obey and accept the wishes of the President as regards their appointments. Their subordinates, however, who of course became “opposing camps” without intending to, are taking the “rigodon” personally and a good number of them are hurting.
Symptoms that there was something wrong or out of the ordinary are the absence of President Marcos Jr. and even Department of National Defense officer in charge Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. from the change of command ceremony, which was also held indoors and not at the grandstand with the usual parade in review.
The nontraditional rite was held at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club House, instead of the AFP Grandstand. It was over in less than an hour.
Journalists were not allowed to cover the event, which was attended by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who presided over the ceremony, and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr.
A giveaway that everything is not well inside the Armed Forces is the part of Centino’s speech where he called on the troops to stop the division and “squabbling” in the ranks after the turnover of command. The new chief of staff also affirmed the need for “professionalism and meritocracy” in the AFP.
The call for unity in the Armed Forces is Centino’s most timely move, for he faces hard work ahead of him in trying to consolidate the AFP and free it from division and dissension.
Already, the Philippine National Police reacted following attempts by some troublemakers to drive a wider wedge among military groups concerned.
Not only the new chief of staff, but President Marcos Jr. himself, should take steps to prevent any fractious tendencies that might creep into the military establishment.
