New AFP chief Centino eyes professionalization, optimal resources use in military

Recently-named Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lieutenant General Andres Centino on Saturday listed his four priority thrusts for the betterment of the organization before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in 2022.

At his first command conference as AFP chief held in Camp Aguinaldo on Saturday, Centino said that he was eyeing operational efficiency or the tri-service interoperability to achieve their desired operational tempo.

Capability development was also necessary as the AFP faces evolving security challenges, both in internal and external domains.

Topping these is his goal to advance professionalism and meritocracy to sustain the people’s satisfaction and high trust in the AFP.

In his dzBB interview on Sunday, AFP spokesperson Army Colonel Ramon Zagala backed these thrusts, saying that Centino wanted the military to accomplish its missions according to what the public expects them to do.

“Ang focus niya talaga ay professionalization ng ating organization. Gusto niya na [performance-based] ang paggalaw ng ating kasundaluhan, ganun din sa promotion, sa designation, gusto niyang performance ‘yung magagaling. Kasi ang mga kababayan natin, may ineexpect sa atin na gampanan natin ang ating misyon, so ayun din yung ine-expect niya, na magkaron tayo ng mga opisyal at mga sundalo na professional,” he said.

(Centino’s focus is the professionalization of our organization. He wants a performance-based movement of the troops. Promotions and designations should be performance-based as well. Our countrymen are expecting us to do our missions, that’s why he wants officers and soldiers who are also professional.)

Centino also aimed to accomplish more projects, despite the limited resources, given that the AFP provides measures to protect and preserve the force throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ang gusto ni General Centino ay alagaan ang resources at make sure na gamitin [sila] sa tama para magampanan ang misyon,” Zagala added.

(General Centino wants us to take care of the resources and make sure that we use them in the right way so we can accomplish our missions.)

Fighting terrorists

Further, Centino emphasized President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to end all local armed conflicts by the end of his term.

He said that Executive Order (EO) 70, which mandates a multi-dimensional, whole-of-nation approach to address the local communist insurgency, has helped the military focus on its core function of protecting the people from terrorists.

With this, local government units and other government agencies took over the non-military socio-economic aspects of counter-insurgency efforts, which the military handled in the previous administrations.

“The enemies of the state are losing support, as we have brought back the trust and confidence of the people to the government. EO70 primed us and the entire government system to finish this social ill once and for all. Within the remaining seven months of our peace and security campaign, we have to further increase our tempo to make sure that we will accomplish the task given by the President,” Centino said.

He also lauded the troops for the series of successful efforts and battles against the domestic armed groups such as the communist New People’s Army. He also highlighted the most recent military operations that resulted in the death of Daulah Islamiyah – Hassan Group leader Salahuddin Hassan on October 29 and the NPA’s National Operational Command leader Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos on October 30.

“Mataas ang satisfaction rating, may tiwala po ang kababayan natin. Kaya dapat alagaan natin ang tiwala na ito para magampanan namin ang trabaho namin, both internal and external defense. At itong mga dinulot sa atin na sakuna ng COVID-19, paano tayo makakatulong dito sa pagsagot dito sa pandemiya,” Zagala added.

(Our satisfaction rating is high, meaning our countrymen have trust in us. Thus, we must protect this trust so we can do our jobs in both internal and external defense. Also, we need to help in addressing solutions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Centino replaced General Jose Faustino Jr., the 56th chief of the AFP. Both of them are members of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1988. — DVM, GMA News

New AFP chief Centino eyes professionalization, optimal resources use in military
Source: Filipino Viral News PH