CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – General Andres C Centino, the 57th Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, who will relinquish his post on August 8, 2022, arrived here yesterday to bid farewell to the units and the Diamond troopers whom he attributed much his ascent to the top AFP post.
General Centino was accorded with a battalion-sized Arrival Honors and a gun salute.
It can be recalled that it was his trailblazing innovations at 4ID, which led to numerous unprecedented accomplishments for the Command including the neutralization of key CTG leaders that propelled him to the top Army post and later to the AFP leadership.
During his talk to the troops, Gen Centino expressed his gratitude to 4ID for helping shaped his career. Most of his significant Command positions were spent with 4ID starting as a Battalion Commander of 26IB based in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, then as Chief of Staff of 4ID. He also Commanded the 401st Bde covering Agusan del Sur then later elevated as Commander of 4th Infantry Division (4ID). General Centino’s commendable performance and service reputation established while at 4ID cemented his place in the AFP hierarchy.
Centino also thanked 4ID for ensuring the success of the recently conducted elections in its AOR and for maintaining the tradition of excellence that 4ID is known for.
Meanwhile, MGen Mamawag thanked Gen Centino for his focused leadership and unrelenting style of supervision which stands as his strong legacy to the young and upcoming Diamond troop leaders. As a sign of gratitude, MGen Mamawag gave a “Lambitan” bolo (sword), a traditional blade associated with the Higaonon, Talaandig, Bukidnon, Umayamnun, and Pulanginon tribes in Mindanao, to General Centino, who happened to be an adopted son of the Higaonon tribe in Caraga.
