Andres Centino | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns | |
| Assumed office September 28, 2023 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| 57th and 59thChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
| In office January 6, 2023 – July 21, 2023 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos Jr. |
| Preceded by | Bartolome Bacarro |
| Succeeded by | Romeo Brawner |
| In office November 12, 2021 – August 8, 2022 | |
| President |
|
| Preceded by | Jose Faustino |
| Succeeded by | Bartolome Bacarro |
| 63rdCommanding General of the Philippine Army | |
| In office May 14, 2021 – December 10, 2021 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Jose Faustino |
| Succeeded by | Romeo Brawner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andres Castor Centino (1967-02-04)February 4, 1967 (age 58) |
| Spouse | Sheila Sucalit |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | |
| Awards | Philippine Legion of Honor |
| Military service | |
| Branch | Philippine Army |
| Years of service | 1988–2023 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | |
Andres Castor Centino (born February 4, 1967) is a retiredPhilippine Army general who currently serves asPresidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns to PresidentBongbong Marcos since September 28, 2023.[1]
Centino last served as the 57th and 59thChief of Staff of theArmed Forces of the Philippines from November 2021 to August 2022 and from January to July 2023.[2][3] He also previously served as the 63rdCommanding General of the Philippine Army from May to December 2021.[4]
Centino was born on February 4, 1967, inTacloban,Leyte, and grew up inCebu City,Cebu. There, he attended theUniversity of the Philippines High School Cebu.[5] His mother, Araceli (née Castor), was a school teacher and probation officer in theParole and Probation Administration, and his father, Flaviano Centino, was a lawyer who served in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Judge Advocate General Service Reserve Unit.[citation needed]
In 1984, at the encouragement of his father, Centino entered thePhilippine Military Academy. He graduated with aBachelor of Science degree cum laude as part of the 1988 Maringal Class and earned his commission as asecond lieutenant of thePhilippine Army.[6]
Throughout his military career, Centino attended various military leadership and intelligence courses, including the1st Scout Ranger Regiment course,infantry officer courses,counterintelligence operations courses, and the Command and General Staff Course at theArmed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College, where he finished as part of the top ten of his class.[7]
Centino also holds aMaster of Business Administration from the School of Management of theUniversity of the Philippines Cebu, and aMaster of Science in National Resource Strategy from theEisenhower School of theNational Defense University inWashington, D.C.[6]
Following his commission, Centino's assignments included Army General Staff Secretary inFort Bonifacio,4th Infantry Division chief of staff, 26th Infantry Battalion commander, 401st Infantry Brigade commander, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Organization, and Training, J3 atCamp Aguinaldo.[6][7]
Centino assumed command of the4th Infantry Division based inCamp Evangelista,Cagayan de Oro on May 28, 2020, and subsequently served as commander of Joint Task Force Diamond.[8][9]
Infantry operations against theNew People's Army intensified within Centino's area of command even amidst the effectsCOVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. He implemented the whole-of-nation approach in endingcommunist armed conflicts in the Philippines outlined in PresidentRodrigo Duterte's Executive Order No. 70, s. 2018.[10] During his tenure, the 4th Infantry Division was lauded as a unit for its offensive operations against the New People's Army.[7]
Centino was appointedCommanding General of the Philippine Army on May 18, 2021.[11] In his initial message to thePhilippine Army atFort Bonifacio, Centino laid out his priorities on the continued modernization of the army, meritocracy based promotion among its officers, and the recruitment of qualified aspirants to the uniformed service.[12]
The appointment came after the removal of then-acting Commanding General,Jose Faustino after having served for only 87 days. Faustino's appointment drew criticisms from SenatorPanfilo Lacson during aCommission on Appointments confirmation hearing due to his ineligibility to the position even in an acting capacity based on Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8186.[13]
On November 12, 2021, Centino was appointedChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by PresidentRodrigo Duterte.[14] Centino's appointment was confirmed by theCommission on Appointments with the concurrent rank ofgeneral on January 26, 2022.[15]
The2022 Philippine presidential election coincided with Centino's tenure, and he directed the Armed Forces to ensure proper observance electoral procedure throughout the country and provide additional security during the campaign period and election day. The Armed Forces also worked to ensure a peaceful transition of power from theDuterte administration to theMarcos Jr. administration.[16]
Centino continued to serve under PresidentBongbong Marcos until August 8, 2022. Lieutenant GeneralBartolome Bacarro was appointed to the position to succeed him.[17]
Due to Centino's first appointment having taken effect prior to Republic Act No. 11709, his relinquishment of the Chief of Staff office did not retire him from military service. In line with previous legal precedent, his mandatory age of retirement was at 56 and he would continue to hold the rank of general until then. Consequently, because there can only be one 4-star general in active military duty at any given moment by law, Bacarro was prevented from promotion to 4-star general albeit occupying the concurrent Chief of Staff office.[18]
On January 6, 2023, Centino was reappointed as theChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by PresidentBongbong Marcos His reappointment under Republic Act No. 11709 granted him tenure past the previous mandatory age of 56.[19]
Centino served as Chief of Staff under President Marcos Jr. until July 21, 2023, and retired from military service.[20]
Centino was appointed as Presidential Assistant on Maritime Concerns by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on September 28, 2023.[21]
The position holds the rank ofsecretary and is under theOffice of the President.[1]
Centino is married to Sheila Sy Sucalit, and together they have three sons and a daughter.[5]
Centino has received the following awards and decorations:
August 8, 2022:Philippine Legion of Honor, Rank of Chief Commander[22] July 21, 2023:Philippine Legion of Honor, Rank of Chief Commander[23]
Distinguished Service Starwith four bronze anahaw leaves
Gawad sa Kapayapaan Medal
Gold Cross Medal_Ribbon.png)
Silver Cross Medal
Meritorious Achievement Medal
Chief of Staff, AFP Commendation Medal
Bronze Cross Medal
Silver Wing Medal
Military Merit Medalwith four silver and one bronze anahaw leaves
Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal Medal
Military Civic Action Medal
Parangal sa Kapanalig ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas Medalwith two bronze anahaw leaves
Military Commendation Medalwith one bronze equilateral triangle
Long Service Medalwith three bronze service stars
Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medalwith two bronze service stars
Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medalwith two bronze service stars
Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medalwith one bronze service star
Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbonwith two bronze service stars
Kalayaan Island Group Campaign Medal
Northern Maritime Frontier Campaign Medal
Presidential Unit Citation Badge
February 1986 Revolution Unit Citation Badge
People Power II Revolution Unit Citation Badge
Martial Law Unit Citation Badge_Badge.png){kind=icon}
Combat Commander's Kagitingan Badge
AFP Parachutist Badge
Army Aviation Service Badge.svg)
Presidential Security Command Badge
Special Forces Qualification Badge
Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the4th Infantry Division 2020–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of the Philippine Army 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 2021–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 2023 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns 2023–present | Incumbent |
