MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not offered him any position in government yet even if he is just days away from leaving the service this coming July 21.
“So far wala namang mga offers, in fact may mga offers from the private sector but from the government ay wala pang offer but hindi ko pa po iniisip yon kasi excited akong magretiro after 41 years, three months and 20 days of service to the nation,” Brawner told reporters in an interview on Tuesday.
(So far, there haven't been any offers. In fact, there have been some offers from the private sector, but there haven't been any from the government yet. But I'm not thinking about that right now because I'm excited to retire after 41 years, three months, and 20 days of service to the nation.)
“Para sa akin ay napakatagal nung 41 years na yon so I think I deserve to become a civilian, an ordinary citizen so I’m looking forward to that,” he added.
(“For me, those 41 years have been a very long time, so I think I deserve to become a civilian—an ordinary citizen. I'm looking forward to that.)
Brawner also emphasized the need for chiefs of staff to serve long as the head of the military to fully carry out their plans noting that many plans did not push through because some predecessors only served for months.
“Especially now with the evolution of threats that we are seeing around the world, we really need to have more time for a specific leader to implement changes and sa nakikita ko sa buong mundo,” he said.
(Especially now, with the evolving threats we're seeing around the world, we really need to give a specific leader more time to implement changes. And based on what I'm seeing around the world.)
Brawner emphasized that a long term is very beneficial because it enables the military chief to give budget to a project and implement it once funding comes.
Brawner is a Philippine Army four-star general who has served as the 60th AFP chief since July 2023. He has built a military career spanning over four decades with extensive experience in special operations, infantry leadership, civil-military operations and military administration.
Apart from being an AFP chief and a former spokesman, Brawner is known for his key role in the Marawi siege in 2017.
