Representative Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro, the hometown of Cadet Darwin Dormitorio, appealed to recall the appointment of Bacarro and urged the Department of Justice to review the general's exoneration, specifically against the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995 that holds responsible those who could have prevented hazing activities but have not done so.

[13][14] In August 2022, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Bacarro as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and replaced General Andres Centino.

[15] During his assumption speech, Bacarro emphasized his command thrust as UNITY, which stands for Unparalleled Professionalism, Noble utilization of resources, Invigorating capability development, Tenacity in sustaining gains, and Yearning for service excellence.

Bacarro also mentioned the importance of time as a "highly valuable commodity" and also vowed to continue the AFP Modernization plans while creating careful monitoring measures due to the changes of warfare and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,[16] and the Self Reliance Posture.

The controversy first made noise after the editorial made by then-AFP Spokesman retired Major General Edgard Arevalo in The Manila Times named "The fates of two AFP chiefs of staff", and later caused Centino's position as a four-star officer to be more senior compared to Bacarro, barring the latter to be promoted, and later caused a rumbling in the AFP hierarchy.

[24] On January 7, 2023, Bacarro was eventually replaced by his predecessor General Andres Centino, and retired from military service, a move aimed to fix the seniority issue under his appointment.

[26] He was subsequently awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor by President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino on July 1, 1991, for his actions.

"By direction of the President, pursuant to paragraph 1-6a, Section II, Chapter 1, AFP Regulations G131-053, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines, dated 1 July 1991, the MEDAL FOR VALOR is hereby awarded to:

For acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty during a ten-hour encounter with about 150 fully armed communist terrorists that attacked the town of Maconacon, Isabela on 26 to 27 January 1991, while serving as Commanding Officer, 6th CAFGU Active Auxiliary Company, 21st Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.

In spite of the overwhelming number of the armed insurgents and aware of the lack of air and artillery fire support and without any possible troop reinforcement due to time, location and weather constraints, then SECOND LIEUTENANT BACARRO courageously closed-in and engaged the enemy in a fierce firefight.