Do not wish for war COMMONSENSE - Marichu A. Villanueva - The Philippine Star October 27, 2023 | 12:00am

Just recently installed to his four-star rank, the military leadership qualities of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. got tested anew in the face of the renewed challenges in our maritime territorial borders in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Still refusing to recognize the arbitration ruling that dismissed Beijing’s “nine-dash” claims, Chinese Coast Guard ships “intentionally” bumped from behind our country’s flagship vessel on a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal last Sunday. Brawner admitted getting “worried” at how the continuing tension in the WPS was stepped up by “the dangerous maneuvers, very aggressive and illegal” activities of the Chinese Coast Guard and militia ships into the 200-mile exclusive economic zone around the Philippines territorial waters. But the AFP Chief of Staff remains unfazed by the saber rattling by one of the world powers. Brawner was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) as AFP Chief of Staff on July 21. A month later, he breezed through the confirmation process at the Commission on Appointments. He headed the Philippine Army for more than two years before he earned his four-stars. A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989, Brawner graduated salutatorian. Brawner recalled he was still a Light Colonel, then as official spokesman of the AFP, during the last time he guested at my Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum. The 55-year-old Brawner is the first beneficiary of Republic Act (RA) 11939 signed in May this year. This law provided for a maximum tour of duty for three consecutive years for the AFP Chief of Staff, “unless sooner terminated by the President.” “Technically, it was Gen. Centino,” Brawner clarified referring to his immediate predecessor, former AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino, whom PBBM appointed upon his retirement, as presidential adviser on the WPS. Having served in various capacities in the military leadership, Brawner believes in the dedication and love for country of his fellow AFP officers and men despite being outnumbered and out-powered in terms of military equipage. His battle records speak volumes about him. He was one of the top military officials and tacticians on the ground during the 2017 siege of Marawi by Islamic State group militants. Brawner flew last week to Marawi City where he led the observance of the 7th anniversary after the AFP successfully ended the IS-influenced Maute siege. The battle-destroyed city is still going through rebuilding process under the rehabilitation program funded by the national government and foreign assistance. At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay last Wednesday, Brawner told us he personally reached out to the displaced residents and the local government officials. He appealed to the Marawi folks to sound out to government authorities any suspicious activities of foreign or local terrorists who might ride on the current Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East. The AFP Chief of Staff reassured the public, though, that the military and other security and law enforcement authorities of the government remain “vigilant” against any activities of concern of possible “terrorist cells” operating in the Philippines. At the local front, the AFP chief expressed confidence that the internal threats posed by communist insurgents and Muslim bandits have been reduced to minimum. “We can bravely say your AFP have greatly diminished the armed communist terrorists groups,” Brawner declared. From a high of 25,000 armed insurgents, he cited, the guerrilla fronts have “weakened” to a little over 1,000 armed-NPA rebels. Half-amused, Brawner recalled more NPA rebels would have surrendered had there not been a “permit-to-campaign fees” extorted during the national and local elections held last year. His immediate concern, though, for now is to ensure these remaining and splintered armed communist groups would not create trouble in the upcoming local elections. Being the son of the late Comelec chairman Romeo Brawner Sr., the Chief of Staff would want the AFP to continue its primary role to help ensure the conduct of honest, orderly and peaceful elections (H.O.P.E.) when we hold the barangay and Sangguning Kabataan elections on Monday. As source of force multipliers, the AFP has strongly endorsed the approval into law of the proposed bill restoring in the college/university curriculum the mandatory enrollment of students to the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Included in the priority legislative bills of PBBM, the proposed ROTC bill is still pending approval at the Senate. Brawner recalled with sadness that the good intentions of the ROTC were overwhelmed by “hazing cases” and alleged illegal collection of fees. He once served as the commandant of PMA where he ensured the total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps during his watch at his alma mater. According to him, the AFP has been extensively preparing for the revised program of the ROTC and redesign the training according to specific courses of students. For example, he cited, the training will be dedicated to medical and rescue operations for Medicine and Nursing students while the military task of building temporary road, bridge and other makeshift structures is for Engineering students. Once approved into law, Brawner counts upon the ROTC as source of “citizen warriors” of the country – in the molds of men and women of Israel and Ukraine now fighting the enemies of their respective States. Barring armed conflict, Brawner wishes the AFP will be able to train again men and women for other man-made and natural calamities and disasters to augment the 150,000-strong AFP personnel. Thus, they are contemplating to rename it as Citizens Military Training (CMT). Despite the AFP having the “most experienced” soldiers in battlefields, Brawner is the last to wish any armed conflict to arise and compel all of Filipinos take up arms in defense of our country. While it happening elsewhere in the world, we all certainly do not want a war to erupt in our doorsteps because of the WPS dispute.