00:00 Some of the highlights of the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
00:05 the unification of the forces in the country,
00:08 and the reintegration of the former MILF fighters.
00:11 Alan Francisco has a live report.
00:14 Alan?
00:15 Audrey, the new chief of staff of the AFP, General Romeo Browner Jr., is officially in his position today.
00:26 [Music]
00:30 President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was the first to attend the turnover ceremony
00:34 of the Change of Command in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
00:38 General Browner led more than 150,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
00:44 as well as more than 70,000 citizens of the Armed Forces Geographical Unit Forces
00:49 and more than a million reservists.
00:52 President Marcos met the experiences of the new AFP Chief of Staff
00:56 in the fight for peace in conflict areas.
00:59 President Marcos urged Browner to look at the internal security operations
01:04 to bring more services to the conflict areas and to the areas of the country.
01:09 President Marcos believes that under Browner's leadership, the country will be safer
01:14 from rebels and the like, while these rebels will decide to return to the government.
01:21 As Commander-in-Chief, Marcos or President Marcos invited the government to support the AFP.
01:28 [Music]
01:30 Along with our efforts to strengthen our external defense capabilities,
01:33 I ask you to continue working with national government agencies and civilian stakeholders
01:40 to form an archipelagic consciousness amongst Filipinos.
01:44 This will help champion our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
01:50 I have faith that under the supervision of General Browner,
01:54 the Armed Forces will continue to ensure the security of Filipinos
01:59 and the national sovereignty of our country amidst the challenges ahead.
02:03 So together, let us protect the interests of our people.
02:08 Let us help them fulfill their goals for themselves,
02:12 for their families, for their communities, and for our nation.
02:17 [Music]
02:19 In his speech, General Browner emphasized the importance of the Constitution and Filipinos.
02:25 He will also focus on unification of external and internal forces,
02:30 normalization or normalization of processes in the BARM,
02:34 particularly the return of the former fighters of the MILF,
02:39 and his promise to strengthen internal security operations
02:43 to fight local and communist terrorist groups.
02:46 General Browner will also promote the strengthening of territorial defense
02:50 through modernizing the personnel, equipment, and facilities of the AFP.
02:55 In line with the President's pronouncement of not giving an inch of our territory,
03:03 the AFP will endeavor to modernize its personnel, equipment, facilities, processes, and systems
03:11 so as to enable it to be a lethal and competent fighting force
03:17 capable of defending our territory from external aggression.
03:22 Part of this modernization would be a focus on cyber warfare.
03:28 I see cyber as a great equalizer,
03:32 and we have great potential to be a player in the cyber domain.
03:39 We shall also actively pursue our international defense and security engagements
03:44 to strengthen our relations with our allies and partners.
03:49 We shall actively participate in the United Nations missions
03:53 to enhance our country's reputation as a peace-loving nation.
03:59 He also gave a speech at the ROTC to unite the youth in nation-building.
04:07 Meanwhile, Audrey, along with the promotion of Browner,
04:10 General Andres Centino also attended the event, the retirement ceremony,
04:14 which was held by President Marcos as the Presidential Advisor on the West Philippine Sea.
04:19 President Marcos thanked Centino for his service to the country and the AFP.
04:24 Centino also mentioned his services to the country.
04:30 Audrey, I would also like to mention, as General Centino said earlier,
04:34 that he went through everything from territorial events to humanitarian concerns.
04:42 In other words, his service was accompanied by the mandate of the AFP,
04:47 which is to serve and to protect.
04:50 Audrey, I would also like to mention General Browner in his speech.
04:55 Aside from thanking President Marcos,
04:58 he also thanked Defense Secretary Guilbo Chodoro.
05:01 He said in his own words that he was helped by Secretary Guilbo Chodoro
05:08 to sit or to be recommended as the Chief of Staff position in the AFP.
05:14 Audrey, General Browner is the 60th or 60th Chief of Staff of the AFP.
05:21 Live from Camp Aguinaldo, Audrey.
05:24 Thank you very much, Alan Francisco.
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