MANILA, JANUARY
12,
2012 (STAR) By Delon Porcalla - President
Aquino yesterday appointed Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz as the new
commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, replacing Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena
who retired after almost three years in the post.
[PHOTO - Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz belongs to Class 1980 of
the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) while Rabena is from Class 1978. The new
PAF chief will retire in April 2014.]
Aquino, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
led the turnover ceremonies at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
De la Cruz vowed to pursue the programs to upgrade the PAF and reestablish
the country's credible air defense that has been overlooked for years.
"I will continue to strengthen our inner core values of integrity, service
above self, teamwork and professionalism," De la Cruz in his assumption speech
as 32nd Air Force chief.
As the wing force of the military and the guardian of the country's skies, De
la Cruz said his command's air capability would be strengthened to the degree
that it could credibly defend the country's territorial integrity.
"With better equipment and systems, your Philippine Air Force will be a
strong guardian of the Philippines skies," he said, apparently referring to
various air assets which the PAF is slated to acquire within the year and
onward.
"We will power up and push forward to have a highly disciplined Air Force,
the kind that we will all be proud of. It's the time to rise... indeed this is
our time to shine. This year is the turning point of our Air Force," he
declared.
Rabena, who was supposed to retire in August, asked for early retirement. He
has been Air Force chief since 2009, or during the time of former President and
now detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
[PHOTO COURTESY OF MALAYA - New top gun. President Aquino
hands the command symbol (Saber) to the 32nd Air Force Commanding General Maj.
Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz during the change of command and retirement
ceremony of Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena at the Camp Jesus Villamor Airbase
Grandstand.]
Prior to his new post, De la Cruz served as commander of the 205th Tactical
Operations Wing, deputy commander of 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing and deputy
commander of the 710th Special Operations Wing.
He was also a flight instructor, training officer, management and operations
officer and a pilot instructor of the PAF Flying School.
De la Cruz obtained his diploma on Arts from Massey University in New Zealand
and a Master's Degree in Management major in Public Administration from the
Philippine Christian University in Manila. – Jaime
Laude
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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