Andres Centino

Andres Castor Centino (born February 4, 1967) is a Philippine Army general who has served as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines since 2023 and previously from 2021 to 2022.[1][2] He previously served as the 64th commanding general of the Philippine Army in 2021 and commander of the 4th Infantry Division from 2020 to 2021.[3][4][5]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Castor and the surname or paternal family name is Centino.
General
Andres Centino
Official portrait, 2022
57th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Assumed office
January 6, 2023
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byBartolome Vicente Bacarro
In office
November 12, 2021 – August 8, 2022
President
Preceded byJose Faustino Jr.
Succeeded byBartolome Vicente Bacarro
Personal details
Born
Andres Castor Centino

(1967-02-04) February 4, 1967
Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
SpouseSheila Sucalit
Children4
Alma mater
AwardsPhilippine Legion of Honor
Military service
BranchPhilippine Army
Years of service1988–present
RankGeneral
Commands

Early life

Centino was born on February 4, 1967, in Tacloban, Leyte, and grew up in Cebu City, Cebu. He is the eldest of five children born to Araceli (née Castor) and Flaviano Centino. He attended the University of the Philippines High School Cebu. At the encouragement of his father, he entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1984 and graduated with honors as part of the Maringal Class of 1988, earning his commission as an Army second lieutenant.[6]

Education

Military career

Centino has undergone various military trainings in security operations and intelligence. He finished the Basic Airborne Course and the First Scout Ranger Regiment Course, the later of which at the top of his class, making him a qualified member of the Special Forces. He also completed the Command and General Staff Course at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College, where he finished in the top ten of his class.

During his military career in the Philippine Army, Centino served as commander of the 26th Infantry "Ever Onward" Battalion, the 401st Infantry "Unity" Brigade, and the 4th Infantry "Diamond" Division. His office posts included Secretary of the Army General Staff at Fort Andres Bonifacio and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Organization, and Training, J3 at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo.

4th Infantry Division

Centino assumed command of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro in May 2020.[7]

Infantry operations against the New People's Army intensified within his area of command even amidst the effects COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Centino also led the implementation of Executive Order No. 70, aimed at institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace and ending the local communist armed conflict in the Philippines.[8]

During his tenure, the 4th Infantry Division was awarded as the "Fightingest Division" for their continuous offensive operations against the New People's Army, and was awarded the "Best Army Unit" in 2020.[9]

Commanding General of the Philippine Army

Centino was appointed the 64th Commanding General of the Philippine Army in May 2021.[10]

His appointment came after the removal of then-acting Commanding General, Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr. after only serving for 87 days. Faustino's appointment drew criticisms from the Commission on Appointments due the general's ineligibility to the position even in an acting capacity under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8186. During a senate confirmation hearing, Senator Panfilo Lacson read verbatim "no officer shall be assigned or designated to certain key positions including the Commanding General of the Philippine Army if he has less than one year of active service remaining prior to compulsory retirement at the age of 56."[11]

Under his leadership, Centino vowed to continue the army's modernization, make efforts towards combating terrorism through peace program, and strengthen the army's response towards all threats. As commanding general, he visited all army divisions across the Philippines.

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Centino was appointed the 57th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by then President Rodrigo Duterte in November 2021.

His tenure included the 2022 Philippine presidential election wherein the Armed Forces of the Philippines worked to ensure a peaceful and secure transition of power. He continued to serve as the chief of staff under President Bongbong Marcos until August 2022, when he was succeeded by Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.

Awards and decorations

General Centino has received the following awards:

Left Side
No Badge No Badge No Badge
Badge Armed Forces of the Philippines Parachutist Badge
Badge Combat Commander's Badge
1st row 4 Distinguished Service Star Medals Gawad sa Kapayapaan Medal Gold Cross Medal
2nd row Silver Cross Medal Meritorious Achievement Medal Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines Commendation Medal
3rd row Distinguished Service Medal Bronze Cross Medal Silver Wing Medal
4th row Military Merit Medals
with one spearhead device 		Military Merit Medals
with three silver anahaw devices		 Military Merit Medals
with four bronze anahaw devices
5th row Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal Military Civic Action Medals 1st Parangal sa Kapanalig ng
Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas Medal
with two bronze anahaw devices
6th row 2nd Parangal sa Kapanalig ng
Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas Medal		 Military Commendation Medals
with one bronze triangular clasps		 Long Service Medal
with three campaign stars
7th row Anti-Dissidence
Campaign Medal		 Luzon Anti-Dissidence
Campaign Medal
with one campaign star		 Visayas Anti-Dissidence
Campaign Medal
with two campaign star
8th row Mindanao Anti-Dissidence
Campaign Medal
with one campaign star		 Unknown Medal & Ribbon Disaster Relief and
Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon
with two service stars
Badges - - -
Badge Scout Ranger Qualification Badge

Right Side

No Badge
No Badge No Badge
-
Philippine Air Force Gold Wings Badge
Army Aviation Badge
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Philippine People Power I Unit Citation Philippine People Power II Unit Citation Martial Law Unit Citation
- -
Special Forces Qualification Badge

Personal life

Centino is married to Sheila Sucalit, and together have four children.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andres C. Centino.
  1. "Army commander Andres Centino is new AFP chief". cnn.
  2. "Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines". Official Gazette. Archived from the original on 2017-06-03.
  3. "Commanding General, Philippine Army". Philippine Army. Archived from the original on 2018-05-09.
  4. Bolledo, Jaira. "Duterte appoints Romeo Brawner Jr. as new PH Army chief". Rappler.
  5. "Statement on the Appointment of the New Chief of Staff, AFP". Armed Forces of the Philippines. November 12, 2021.
  6. Begas, Billy (May 18, 2021). "Proud Cebuano! Eduardo Gullas welcomes appointment of Andres Centino as Army chief". Politiko Visayas. Archived from the original on 2021-05-18.
  7. "Army installs new Diamond Division commander". www.army.mil.ph.
  8. Executive Order. No. 70, 2018.
  9. Bolledo, Jairo (May 18, 2021). "Meet Andres Centino, the Army's 7th chief in 5 years". Rappler.
  10. Bolledo, Jairo (May 18, 2021). "LOOK: Andres Centino sworn in as 64th Philippine Army chief". Rappler.
  11. Gonzales, Cathrine (10 March 2021). "Philippine Army commanding general not qualified for post, says Lacson". INQUIRER.
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