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Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. officially took command of the 104,000-strong Philippine Army as its 65th Commanding General in a Change of Command hybrid ceremony on Friday, Dec. 10, describing it as a “part of God’s plan” in his life.
Looking back, Brawner said it was as if becoming the Army chief was his destiny. He recalled a time where he was one of the passengers of the ill-fated Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in Jolo, Sulu in July this year. “And so today, I stand before you as the 65th Commanding General of the Philippine Army not with pride in my heart but with gratitude and humility, knowing that this was all part of God’s plan,” Brawner said in his assumption speech.Brawner said that he would focus on taking care of the troops’ health, morale, and welfare as well as the honing of their skills and competencies “to ensure that they can accomplish the missions given to them.
This incident prompted Brawner to prioritize eradicating hazing in the premier military training institution before he resigned from post.