President Arroyo has appointed Maj. Gen. Oscar Rabena as the new commander of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
A member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1978, Rabena assumed command from Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog in turnover rites at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City yesterday afternoon.
Rabena’s appointment was tightly guarded until the last minute as the race for the top PAF post was dominated by three senior contenders: Major Generals Hernanie Perez, Nathaniel Legaspi and Rolando Capacio.
Mrs. Arroyo is an honorary member of PMA Class of 1978.
Perez and Legaspi belong to PMA Class of 1976 whose members occupy top posts in the Armed Forces.
They are two years senior to Rabena.
Capacio graduated from the PAF Flying School.
Before his appointment as PAF commander, Rabena was chief of plans and programs at the Armed Forces. – Jaime Laude