Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782885733196HMGVnD9a8AA8DWY (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercise, Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on April 21, 2025.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said the next chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should build on the &quot;legacy&quot; of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., as the military chief retires from service on July 21.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/9/no-threats-from-within-afp-amid-alleged-june-12-destabilization-plot-brawner-1706">No threats from within AFP amid alleged June 12 destabilization plot — Brawner</a></div><p>Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Air Force’s 79th founding anniversary in Pasay City, Teodoro said choosing the next AFP chief is a decision that rests solely with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>“Yun ay usapin na for the decision of the President. Yung choice na Chief of Staff talaga ay bukod-tangi sa lahat ng mga posisyon sa AFP. Hihintayin ko, hihintayin naming lahat ang pasya ng Presidente,” he said.</p><p>Teodoro declined to say whether he had recommended a successor, noting that discussions on the appointment are confidential.</p><p>“Itong proseso ay between the President and the SND—privileged ito kaya hindi puwedeng i-discuss,” he said.</p><p>The defense chief, however, emphasized that the transition is critical and that the incoming military chief must sustain the reforms and momentum established under Brawner.</p><p>“Ang succession ay very important. Mahirap din. We must choose somebody who will build on, na magtutuloy ng legacy ni Gen. Brawner,” Teodoro said.</p><p>He praised Brawner for setting a high standard of leadership, citing the latter’s accomplishments both domestically and internationally, his management of the military’s joint services, and his role in advancing reforms within the AFP.</p><p>“Mahirap yung standard na ipinakita ni Gen. Brawner na mataas—whether sa local or international, tsaka sa overall management ng joint services ng AFP, at katulong ko sa reforms na kinakailangang gawin, at sa transition from solely ISO [internal security operations] to both [internal security and external defense],” he said.</p><p>Brawner assumed office on July 21, 2023.</p><p>His tenure as AFP chief was governed by Republic Act No. 11939 or “An Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the AFP”, which amended Republic Act No. 11709.</p><p>Under the new law, the chief of staff is given a fixed maximum tour of duty of three years, unless sooner terminated by the President.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WWqxWBD5YWM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iDcgfXFWWrE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Defense chief emphasized that the transition is critical and that the incoming military chief must sustain the reforms and momentum established under Brawner.</p>

The Defense chief emphasized that the transition is critical and that the incoming military chief must sustain the reforms and momentum established under Brawner.

Next AFP chief should build on Brawner’s 'legacy'—Teodoro

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Next AFP chief should build on Brawner’s 'legacy'—Teodoro

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2026 02:06 PM PHT

Read More:

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

retirement

successor

Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

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